Formal Methods for Synthesis

Let me begin with a simple theme, repentance, and a simple message: repent from complacency in the practice and defense of social science history (SSH). I say this because I do not see social science historians meeting three major challenges that must be overcome if the larger, collective enterprise is to survive with the same vitality it had a decade ago. Those challenges are, first, to bring social theory forcefully back into historical research; second, to take formal methods to a new, higher level; and, third, to seek to train the next generation of social science historians in the theory and methods they will need in the next century.

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Formal Methods in the Field (NSF)

Federal Grants & Contracts ◽

10.1002/fgc.31347 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (22) ◽

pp. 4-4

Keyword(s):

Formal Methods

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Balancing the formal and the informal in user-centred design

Interacting with Computers ◽

10.1093/iwcomp/iwab012 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michael D Harrison ◽

Paolo Masci ◽

José Creissac Campos

Keyword(s):

Formal Methods ◽

Systematic Approach ◽

Formal Analysis ◽

Interactive Systems ◽

User Evaluation ◽

Analysis Techniques ◽

User Centred Design ◽

Early Design Stages ◽

Cooperative Evaluation

Abstract This paper explores the role of formal methods as part of the user-centred design of interactive systems. An iterative process is described, developing prototypes incrementally, proving user-centred requirements while at the same time evaluating the prototypes that are executable forms of the developed models using ‘traditional’ techniques for user evaluation. A formal analysis complements user evaluations. This approach enriches user-centred design that typically focuses understanding on context and producing sketch designs. These sketches are often non-functional (e.g. paper) prototypes. They provide a means of exploring candidate design possibilities using techniques such as cooperative evaluation. This paper describes a further step in the process using formal analysis techniques. The use of formal methods provides a systematic approach to checking plausibility and consistency during early design stages, while at the same time enabling the generation of executable prototypes. The technique is illustrated through an example based on a pill dispenser.

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