IA Services/Galformod

MPDL,GAVO

=Meeting "GUIs within the MPA"=

Date and Place
Date: 16.09.2011, 10:00 Place: Max-Planck-Digital Library (MPDL)

Participants

 * Dr. Frank Sander (MPDL)
 * Gerard Lemson (Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics)
 * Matthias Egger (Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics)
 * Malte Dreyer (MPDL)
 * Rupert Kiefl (MPDL)
 * Wolfgang Voges (External)
 * Andreas Vogler (MPDL)

Aim
The MPDL's Research & Development Department hosts a group which covers the field of User Interface Engineering since 2007. Besides internal software development projects it has already done service deliveries for external institutes service deliveries for external institutes.

To evaluate further on services delivery in this field any need within the MPG is evaluated. The Meeting is set up to give an example of what an institutes within the CPT section may require from UIE. Requirements of the institute should be compared to established methods of the UIE team to allow a more precise judgement on effort and duration of further service deliveries.

Agenda

 * Introduction to the UIE Team
 * Introduction of the Galformod Project
 * Discussion

Summary
Moderator: Dr. Frank Sander


 * Welcome and introduction (Sander)
 * Background information on the User Interface Engineering group. The undertaking is not related to the AWOB project. Only in a sense that it's contact persons are also involved in AWOB. (Kiefl)

Introduction to web services within the Galformod portal (Lemson)
The Galformod portal offers scientific web applications that allow a worldwide community of astrophysicists to elaborate on aspects of the millenium simulation. These applications are partly complex and at the same time relevant for the external appearance of the MPA because it's tools should be made publicly available over time. It is to be expected, that many publications will derive from the database and its tools.

Development of backend technology is fully covered by the MPA. The Galformod project needs support in building a graphical user interfaces that:


 * maps object types and complex structures to a user interface with a high level of usability (Information Architecture)
 * uses state of the art browser features and at the same time a high level of compatibility (Consulting on User Interface Development)
 * align the portal appearance to the institutes corporate design (Design)
 * evaluate the use and usability of the portal and improve the user experience and user performance over time (Usability Evaluation)

If possible, interface development resources with focus on CSS and jQuery could be helpful.


 * Methods and requirements should be compared to get an understanding what resources are needed (Dreyer)
 * A proposal needs to be written by UIE (Sander)
 * A possible schedule depends on the 'going public' of certain tool. It will start at the beginning of next Year (Lemson)

Conclusion
The Galformod project may be a pilot of the UIE service delivery for MPIs. Effort and methods should be summarized in a planning that will be sent to MPA and MPG management until the end of week 38.