LiquidApps®: Consistent Battle Command System Visualization through a Second Generation Model Based Approach

We propose a comprehensive system to support the definition and governance of user interface (UI) standards, and to simplify compliance with standards across diverse platforms as designers create new UIs. However, we also allow platform-specific features to be exploited, so the consistency is in defined logical according to a meta-model that relates each platform to each other. New platforms that come to market in the future are easily integrated into LiquidApps through its meta-model. Thus designers can use artwork and graphical effects specific to a platform, yet insure the behavior and logical layout matches other platforms. Furthermore, our solution helps migrate a UI from one platform to another, and even accounts for different form factors (e.g., desktop to mobile device). The product is based on a UI design technology designed primarily under DoD funding, LiquidApps, which has proven itself in creating thousands of UIs for in DoD. Through using graphical editing environment LiquidApps allows the subject matter expert to design the user interfaces (within preset framework) even if they are not programmers, including definition of basic UI behavior. Code is automatically generated for programmers to refine into final applications. Standards are enforced through style sheets and reusable parts inventories.