User-oriented development of a universal hardware device for controlling graphical user interfaces of audio software applications

This project aims at producing a touchscreen-based device which enables the user to operate all virtual control elements of graphical user interfaces by handling a physical hardware controller. The chief innovation of this technology is that the controller works independently and requires no support from the corresponding software application. Thus we endeavour to create an all-purpose controller for task-oriented and intuitive handling of audio software applications. It is an important aspect to integrate usability-engineering into the development process which is why we focus on incorporating the user in the system design by formative evaluation. In this way the usability of the product will be optimised throughout all stages of development as far as the determined usage category is concerned. Trying to guarantee an ideal combination of functionality and usability the main technological focus consists of efficient hardware/software co-design on the one hand and innovative user-interface-design on the other.