The TOP-slider for multi-criteria decision making by non-specialists.

The TOP-Slider revisits the classical slider widget to help non-experts to find optimal compromises between tightly coupled, possibly conflicting, criteria. The TOP-Slider is designed to make the tradeoff between criteria both observable and intelligible while hiding the complexity of an underlying optimization algorithm. As a case study, a TOP-Slider has been assessed in terms of perceived affordance, intelligibility and incentive, when used in conjunction with an e-coach energy management system to interactively explore Pareto optimal solutions and to choose the best compromise between comfort and financial cost. A preliminary semi-controlled empirical study with 16 participants using 3 interdependent criteria shows that the TOP-Slider can serve as a sound basis to support non expert users in making informed compromises.