Collecting such information from a system's usage, after it has been deployed, should provide a more accurate database of expert methodologies. Current adaptive systems attempt to capture and automate such features during run-time. However, these systems can never evolve very far beyond their original design, since the adaptations occur within the scope of that design. Our method is to offer the expert's usage database as input to the designer, re-introducing the designer in the development cycle after a system has been deployed initially, so that a more effective system can be produced in the next generation. Copyright on this material is held by the authors.
Domain knowledge is important for developing problem solving techniques.
User interface knowledge is important for working with a computer tool effectively. Expert users of particular computer programs combine the two types of knowledge to perform tasks successfully. The system design process can receive input from the user population before and after system deployment. We want to take advantage of the notion that a computer tool can record a database of its usage which can then be used as input to designers in the re-design phase. This data is consulted during re-design to provide guidance for system modification.