Usability Analysis of Visual Programming Environments: a `cognitive dimensions' framework

Usability Analysis of Visual Programming Environments: a `cognitive dimensions' framework (1996)

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by T. R. G. Green , M. Petre

Venue:	JOURNAL OF VISUAL LANGUAGES AND COMPUTING
Citations:	319 - 10 self

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Datum	Value	Source
TITLE	Usability Analysis of Visual Programming Environments: a `cognitive dimensions' framework	user correction - Legacy Corrections
AUTHOR NAME	T. R. G. Green	user correction
AUTHOR AFFIL	MRC Applied Psychology Unit; 15 Chaucer Road	user correction
AUTHOR ADDR	Cambridge CB2 2EF, UK	user correction
AUTHOR NAME	M. Petre	user correction
AUTHOR AFFIL	Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science; Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA	user correction
AUTHOR ADDR	UK	user correction
ABSTRACT	The cognitive dimensions framework is a broad-brush evaluation technique for interactive devices and for non-interactive notations. It sets out a small vocabulary of terms designed to capture the cognitively-relevant aspects of structure, and shows how they can be traded off against each other. The purpose of this paper is to propose the framework as an evaluation technique for visual programming environments. We apply it to two commercially-available dataflow languages (with further examples from other systems) and conclude that it is effective and insightful; other HCI-based evaluation techniques focus on different aspects and would make good complements. Insofar as the examples we used are representative, current VPLs are successful in achieving a good `closeness of match', but designers need to consider the `viscosity' (resistance to local change) and the `secondary notation' (possibility of conveying extra meaning by choice of layout, colour, etc.).	user correction
YEAR	1996	INFERENCE
VENUE	JOURNAL OF VISUAL LANGUAGES AND COMPUTING	user correction
VENUE TYPE	JOURNAL	INFERENCE
PAGES	131--174	INFERENCE
VOLUME	7	INFERENCE
CITATIONS	91 found	ParsCit 1.0