Abstract
This chapter introduces the area of simulation modelling and will discuss the importance of considering users in the development of simulation systems that support the modelling process. The aim of this chapter is to examine the issues that influence ‘usability’ of simulation systems. We examined six representative simulation systems in terms of their usability by identifying first general usability principles and then examining which of these principles are applied. We identified both good practice and usability defects in these systems. Based on these observations we proposed improved integrated simulation environments that facilitate: design of problem domains; better support for data input/model specification; better support for visual simulation; better support for simulation statistics/results; and better user support and assistance. In conclusion, we suggest several future research directions which may lead to developments of better simulation environments.
This paper is a slightly modified version of the paper “Usability of manufacturing simulation software” published in 1995 in the International Journal of the Manufacturing System Design, 2(2): 105–120.
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Kuljis, J. (1998). The Usability of User Interfaces to Simulation Systems. In: Macredie, R., Paul, R., Anketell, D., Lehaney, B., Warwick, S. (eds) Modelling for Added Value. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0601-2_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0601-2_22
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