Towards virtualization of user interfaces based on UsiXML

A model-based approach is presented for structuring a development process of virtual user interfaces based on UsiXML, a XML-compliant User Interface Description Language. UsiXML provides a Concrete User Interface description that remains independent from any toolkit, whether graphical or virtual. To support the rendering of this description in a virtual world, two toolkits have been developed: for VRML97 and X3D. The user interface description can be edited within an appropriate graphical editor, in 2D for instance, and leads to 2D or 3D rendering or an automated generation of a 2D graphical user interface in Java or a 3D virtual user interface in VRML97 or X3D, for both presentation and behavior parts. When any element involved in the Concrete User Interface changes, the corresponding virtual user interface changes accordingly, thus reducing development time and complexity. In this way, a virtual user interface can be produced with the advantage of raising the level of abstraction with respect to any language. This paper focuses on the 3D user interfaces.