Implementation Goals for Multimodal Interfaces in Human-Computer Interaction

A multimodal interface will only be adequate if it is validated by usability criteria, namely, if it promotes: a faster interaction; a selective adaptation to different environments, users or usage behaviours; a shorter learning curve or being more intuitive; the recognition of information in a noisy environment (e.g. at the sound, visual or tactile level); the connection of presented information to a more global contextual knowledge (enabling an easier interpretation); and the translation of information between modalities. Hence, the option for a multimodal interface, over a unimodal, depends on the type of action to be carried out by the user, its potential for increased usability and experience it can provide. The multimodal interface research area constitutes a very active and constantly expanding interdisciplinary territory, and this fact contributes to the numerous implementation goals attributed to these interfaces. This article seeks to identify and enumerate them, supporting itself on a thorough bibliographic analysis.