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An Overview of Semiotic Engineering Epistemic Tools for the Design of Collaborative Systems

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Conversations Around Semiotic Engineering

Abstract

Semiotic Engineering (2005) is an HCI theory that perceives an interactive system as a computer-mediated communication in which the designer of a system conveys to system users who the system is for, what it can be used for and how to interact with it. Based on this communicative perspective, the theory aims at providing explanation about the phenomena related to the design, evaluation, and use of interactive systems. To do so, Semiotic Engineering draws on Semiotics – the discipline that studies signs, significations processes and communication – and makes connections to Computer Science concepts.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Notice that, although learning about the users, their needs and contexts would be expected, it is outside the scope of the Semiotic Engineering theory (de Souza and Leitão 2009). Such activities can be performed using known HCI methods, such as direct observation or interviews (Lazar et al. 2010).

  2. 2.

    This first model proposed an extra component, which was the Widget Advisor. The goal of the Widget advisor was to suggest possible interface elements, based on the model described. However, this component was later dropped, since the architecture model aimed at supporting designers in defining the content of the meta-message and the widget advisor was an attempt to support the designer in thinking about its expression. Furthermore, the other components focused on an abstract model, whereas the Widget Advisor would be dependent on specific technologies.

  3. 3.

    The alternative would be to use MetaCom-G or Manas L-ComUSU. Although MetaCom-G had the concept of expressing changes over time, they were limited. Furthermore, since MetaCom-G was not being used, there would be no requirement or need to maintain it and try to adapt it. Manas, on the other hand, was more recent and had been used more. However, it did not include the concept of time and changes, and including that would require a large change in the design language and might make it more complex and less usable.

  4. 4.

    In this chapter, we refer to the user about whom the information is being shared as individual.

  5. 5.

    Available at: http://pensi.dcc.ufmg.br/applications/

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Raquel Oliveira Prates

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  1. Raquel Oliveira Prates
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Correspondence to Raquel Oliveira Prates .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Informática, PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Simone Diniz Junqueira Barbosa

  2. Corporate VP & GM Brazil Labs, Dell EMC | Services, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Karin Breitman

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Prates, R.O. (2017). An Overview of Semiotic Engineering Epistemic Tools for the Design of Collaborative Systems. In: Diniz Junqueira Barbosa, S., Breitman, K. (eds) Conversations Around Semiotic Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56291-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56291-9_9

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