Skip to main content

Towards an Operationalization of the “Physics of Notations” for the Analysis of Visual Languages

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 8107))

Abstract

We attempt to validate the conceptual framework “Physics of Notation” (PoN) as a means for analysing visual languages by applying it to UML Use Case Diagrams. We discover that the PoN, in its current form, is neither precise nor comprehensive enough to be applied in an objective way to analyse practical visual software engineering notations. We propose an operationalization of a part of the PoN, highlight conceptual shortcomings of the PoN, and explore ways to address them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Bertin, J.: Graphics and Graphic Information- Processing. Verlag Walther de Gruyter (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bertin, J.: Semiology of Graphics: Diagrams, Networks, Maps. Univ. Wisconsin Press (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Blackwell, A., Green, T.R.G.: Notational systems–the cognitive dimensions of notations framework. In: HCI Models, Theories and Frameworks: Toward a Multidisciplinary Science, pp. 103–134 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Diprose, J.P., MacDonald, B.A., Hosking, J.G.: Ruru: A spatial and interactive visual programming language for novice robot programming. In: Costagliola, G., et al. (eds.) Proc. IEEE Symp. Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2011), pp. 25–32. IEEE Computer Society (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dobing, B., Parsons, J.: How UML is used. Com. ACM 49(5), 109–113 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fish, A., Störrle, H.: Visual qualities of the Unified Modeling Language: Deficiencies and Improvements. In: Cox, P., Hosking, J. (eds.) Proc. IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2007), pp. 41–49. IEEE Computer Society (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Genon, N., Amyot, D., Heymans, P.: Analysing the Cognitive Effectiveness of the UCM Visual Notation. In: Kraemer, F.A., Herrmann, P. (eds.) SAM 2010. LNCS, vol. 6598, pp. 221–240. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Genon, N., Heymans, P., Amyot, D.: Analysing the Cognitive Effectiveness of the BPMN 2.0 Visual Notation. In: Malloy, B., Staab, S., van den Brand, M. (eds.) SLE 2010. LNCS, vol. 6563, pp. 377–396. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Green, T.R.G., Blandford, A., Church, L., Roast, C., Clarke, S.: Cognitive Dimensions: achievements, new directions, and open questions. J. Visual Languages and Computing 17(4), 328–365 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Green, T.R.G., Petre, M.: Usability analysis of visual programming environments: A ‘cognitive dimensions’ framework. J. Visual Languages and Computing (7), 131–174 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Green, T.: Cognitive dimensions of notations, pp. 443–460. Cambridge University Press (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gregor, S.: The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly 30(3), 611–642 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gurr, C.: Effective Diagrammatic Communication: Syntactic, Semantic and Pragmatic Issues. J. Visual Languages and Computing 10, 317–342 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kutar, M., Britton, C., Barker, T.: A comparison of empirical study and cognitive dimensions analysis in the evaluation of uml diagrams. In: Proc. 14th Psychology of Programming Interest Group (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Larkin, J., Simon, H.: Why a diagram is (sometimes) worth ten thousand words. Cognitive Science 11, 65–99 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Moody, D.L.: The Physics of Notations: Toward a Scientific Basis for Constructing Visual Notations in Software Engineering. IEEE Trans. Software Engineering 35(6), 756–779 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Moody, D., van Hillegersberg, J.: Evaluating the Visual Syntax of UML: An Analysis of the Cognitive Effectiveness of the UML Family of Diagrams. In: Gašević, D., Lämmel, R., Van Wyk, E. (eds.) SLE 2008. LNCS, vol. 5452, pp. 16–34. Springer, Heidelberg (2009)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. OMG: OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.4 (ptc/2010-11-14). Technical report, Object Management Group (January 2011)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Roast, C.R., Khazaei, B.: An Investigation into the Validation of Formalised Cognitive Dimensions, pp. 109–122. Springer (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Shimojima, A.: Inferential and Expressive Capacities of Graphical Representations: Survey and Some Generalizations. In: Blackwell, A.F., Marriott, K., Shimojima, A. (eds.) Diagrams 2004. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2980, pp. 18–21. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Stevens, S.S.: Psychophysics. J. Wiley & Sons (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Störrle, H.: On the Impact of Layout Quality to Unterstanding UML Diagrams. In: Costagliola, G., et al. (eds.) Proc. IEEE Symp. Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2011), pp. 135–142. IEEE Computer Society (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Störrle, H.: On the Impact of Layout Quality to Unterstanding UML Diagrams: Diagram Type and Expertise. In: Costagliola, G., Ko, A., Cypher, A., Nichols, J., Scaffidi, C., Kelleher, C., Myers, B. (eds.) Proc. IEEE Symp. Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2012), pp. 195–202. IEEE Computer Society (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Störrle, H., Fish, A. (2013). Towards an Operationalization of the “Physics of Notations” for the Analysis of Visual Languages. In: Moreira, A., Schätz, B., Gray, J., Vallecillo, A., Clarke, P. (eds) Model-Driven Engineering Languages and Systems. MODELS 2013. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 8107. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41533-3_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41533-3_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-41532-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-41533-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics