User Interface

It is important that the NCCS be designed with a homogeneous and easy-to-use user interface. Guidelines must be given to program developers on how to develop such a system with a class library available which allows users to develop interfaces which have the same look and feel. Prototype interfaces must be made available which observers can modify to create their own interfaces.

The user interface can be broken down according to the type of user - observer, developer, test, analyser and non-expert. The user interface must cater for all these groups.

The user's interface can be split up into two parts - an ascii based interface and a graphical users interface. Experience shows that a graphical interface is not sufficient on its own and a high level extendable language is very useful especially for doing rapid prototyping of a new observing program.