2020 - 2029 Working Papers

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/14142

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A multidimensional activity theory framework for human computer interaction with Digital Twins
(University of Waikato, Department of Software Engineering, 2025) Adeel, Aleeza; Apperley, Mark
This paper introduces a human-centred framework to address the interaction and usability challenges of complex Digital Twin (DT) systems by proposing a new generation of Activity Theory, named Pyramidal Activity Theory (PAT). Digital twins are virtual representations of physical processes, systems, or components that are continuously synchronised with real-world data. Despite their growing adoption across industries, their graphical representation remains challenging due to the diversity of application domains, where multiple models—spanning different users, phases, and scales—are typically distributed across heterogeneous software packages. These complexities often result in inconsistencies, fragmented workflows, and communication barriers across domains. The proposed model builds upon the previous generation of activity theory, extending it into a 3D pyramidal structure while excluding motivational factors to focus exclusively on interaction mechanics. PAT provides a coherent model for designing unified, user-centred interfaces by capturing dynamic interactions among the key elements of DT systems—Users, Tools (Models), Live Data, Interfaces, and Outcomes—and their interrelationships. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate its applicability. Case Study 1 maps human–system interactions in advanced manufacturing, clarifying roles and activity flows to make the framework understandable and directly applicable for practitioners. Case Study 2 validates PAT through an implemented prototype for industrial energy optimisation. The proposed model introduces a novel 3D interaction paradigm, providing a scalable and adaptable framework for digital twin interface design. It improves usability, standardisation, and decision-making by clarifying stakeholder roles, reducing cognitive load through “black-box” model integration, and ensuring consistent logic from regional planning to unit-level control. The paper concludes with future research directions, including usability testing, interface refinement, and alignment with interoperability and accessibility standards.
Usable-by-Construction a formal framework
(University of Waikato, 2021) Reeves, Steve
We propose here to look at how abstract a model of a usable system can be, but still say something useful and interesting, so this paper is an exercise in abstraction and formalisation, with usability-of-design as an example target use. We take the view that when we claim to be designing a usable system we have, at the very least, to give assurances about its usability properties. This is a very abstract notion, but provides the basis for future work, and shows, even at this level that there are things to say about the (very concrete) business of designing and building usable, interactive systems. Various forms of verification and validation can provide a high level of assurance but it can be very costly, and there is clearly a lot of resistance to doing things this way. In this paper, we introduce the idea of usable-by-construction, which adopts and applies the ideas of correct-by-construction to (very abstractly) thinking about usable systems. We give a set of construction rules or tactics to develop designs of usable systems, and we also formalize them into a state suitable for, for example, a proof assistant to check claims made for the system as designed. In the future, these tactics would allow us to create systems that have the required usability properties and thus provide a basis to a usable-by-construction system. Also, we should then go on to show that the tactics preserve properties by using an example system with industrial strength requirements. And we might also consider future research directions.
Participatory data design: managing data sovereignty in IoT solutions
(Oxford University Press, 2022) Bowen, Judy; Hinze, Annika
Within the software engineering community, deciding how to collect, store and use personal data has become about more than just understanding our users. This paper considers ethical data use which includes cultural considerations and data ownership rights. We discuss indigenous data sovereignty as a concept and how it potentially impacts technological solutions that gather personal data from users. We propose an extension to typical user-centred design processes which we call participatory data design. This incorporates the use of frameworks and tools that specifically focus on managing data within the cultural context it is gathered from. We also present a specific example of how we have used this approach in the context of a data collection project from M¯aori workers in New Zealand forestry. We conclude with a discussion of the wider implications of this approach.

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