Adaptive GUI Layout by Satisfying Fuzzy Constraints

Abstract

A graphical user interface is equipped with an adaptive layout when it holds the ability to dynamically adjust its layout and structure of widgets based on conditions that evolve over time coming from the end user, the platform used, and the environment. More specifically, such a layout automatically adapts itself depending on the window dimensions of the application, the screen resolution, and the screen size, thus posing a series of constraints that, sometimes, could not be entirely satisfied together at once. To cope with this variation, we formulate the adaptive GUI layout as a fuzzy constraint satisfaction problem in which the solver attempts to satisfy the most important constraints first, such as an appropriate widget selection, then the least important constraints after.