A Layered Object-Oriented Model for Interaction

We present a layered model of human computer interaction based on an object-oriented programming language. The model gains increasing abstraction with each layer that is added to the model. At the lowest layer parsing of physical events generated by a window system is dealt with. At the highest level we find interaction panels that no longer refer to events as such. Instead, interaction panels are solely described as aggregations of messages from High level interaction tools such as buttons, slider, menus, etc. The interaction tools are separated into three components: the interaction methods, the presentation, and the interaction style. The model can be used as a toolbox for programmers, or as a basis for automatic generation of user interfaces by interactive development tools.