XPL and the synchronization of multimodal user interfaces based on design pattern

The great diversity of presentations in software applications deals with fulfilment of various types of user interface constructions related to different programming languages. Furthermore, the growing interest for multimodal applications entails that their user interfaces have to support multiple access channels within a single development framework. User Interfaces Design Patterns (UIDPs) are helpful to define interaction schemas between user and computer and they provide remarkable tools for the design and reuse of software components. This paper describes the eXtensible Presentation architecture and Language (XPL), a framework aimed at streamlining multichannel interface design process and enabling full component reuse. To illustrate the benefits of using XPL in a large software design project, a case study of an XPL application concerning a questionnaire form filling system is described, highlighting the benefits of employing visual and verbal design patterns and their synchronization during multimodal interface development.