Abstract
This paper uses the analytic framework of cognitive dimensions to provide formal interpretations of dimensions for appraising the suitability of interactive systems for particular tasks. The framework also provides an effective terminology to support a wide range of assessments including interface evaluation, and the resistance of notations to modification. We propose that interface design can benefit from interpreting cognitive dimensions as tools for assessing software characteristics such as usability and modifiability. Our interpretation of these dimensions has the benefits of being formal and at the same time yielding practical measures and guidelines for assessment. In this paper our formalisation of cognitive dimensions examines and illustrates the dimensions of ‘viscosity’ — resistance to change. We demonstrate the appropriateness of the measures developed as a means of assessing notational resistance to change and the general results that their formalization enables.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. J. Barnard and M. D. Harrison (1992) Towards a Framework for Modelling Human Computer Interactions“, Proceedings International Conference on {HCI}, EWHCI’92 ed J. Gornostaev pp189–196 Moscow:{ICSTI}
T. Berners-Lee and D.Connolly (1995) Hypertext Markup Language - 2.0 Internet-Draft of the International Engineering Task Force
A. J. Dix (1991) Formal Methods for Interactive Systems Academic Press
D. J. Duke and P. J. Barnard and J. May and D. A. Duce(1995) Systematic Development of the Human Interface; Proceedings of APSEC’95: Second Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference, IEEE Computer Society Press
D. J. Duke and M. D. Harrison (1995) Mapping user requirements to implementations; Software Engineering Jounal, 10 1 pp 13–20
D. J. Gilmore (1997) Cognitive Dimensions as a tool for comparative evaluation; Psychology Department, University of Nottingham
T. R. G. Green (1989) Cognitive Dimensions of Notations; People and Computers V ed A. Sutcliffe and Macaulay; Cambridge University Press pp443–460“
T.R.G. Green and M. Petre (1996) Usability Analysis of Visual Porgramming Environments: a’cognitive dimensions’ framework; The Journal of Visual Languages and Computing 7 (2) pp 131–174
M. D. Harrison and A. E. Blandford and P. J. Barnard (1993) University of York; The software engineering of user freedom:Amodeus 2 Document
Leslie Lamport (1986) LaTeX: A Document Preparation Language Addison–Wesley: ISBN 0–201–15790
D. Lavery and G. Cockton and M. Atkinson (1996) Cognitive Dimensions: Usability Evaluation Materials. Deparment of Computing Science, University of Glasgow
R. De Nicola and A. Fantechi and S. Gnesi and G. Ristori (1991) An Action based framework for verifying logical and behavioural properties of concurrent systems: Proceedings of 3rd Workshop on Computer Aided Verification
M. B. Özcan (1993) An Integrated Rapid Prototyping Environment Based on Executable Specifications: UMIST, U.K
M. B. Özcan and J Siddiqi (1996) Interchanging Specifications and Implementations in Evolutionary Prototyping: Software- Practice and Experience 26 (9) pp 999–1023
F. Paternò (1995) Proceedings, EUROGRAPHICS Workshop on the Design, Specification, Verification of Interactive Systems, Bocca di Magra, Italy“, Springer–Verlag: Eurographics Seminar Series ISBN 3–540–59450–9
S. J. Payne and T. R. G. Green (1986) Task-action grammars: a model of mental representation of task languages: Human-Computer Interaction 2 (2) pp 95133
M. S. Powell (1989) A Program Development Environment based on Persistence and Abstract Data Types: Workshop on Persistent Object Systems
P. Reisner (1983) Formal grammar as a tool for analysing ease of use: some fundamental concepts Human Factors in Computer Systems, ed J. C. Thomas and M. L. Schneider pp 53–78
C. R. Roast (1994) Modelling Interaction Using Template Abstractions, People and Computers IX; ed G. Cockton, S. W. Draper and G. R. S. Weir pp 273–284
C. R. Roast and J. I. Siddiqi (1996), The Formal Examination of Cognitive Dimensions; HCI96 Adjunct Proceedings pp150–156
C. R. Roast and J. I. Siddiqi (1996) Formally Assessing Software Modifiability, BCS–FACS Workshop on Formal Aspects of the Human Computer Interface, Sheffield Hallam University, 10–12 September 1996; Springer–Verlag Electronic Workshops in Computing; ed, C. R. Roast and J. I. Siddiqi ISBN 3–540–76105–5
C. R. Roast and J. I. Siddiqi (1997) Usability Requirements as Specification Constraints–an example of WYSIWYG; IEE Proceedings Software Engineering 144 (2) pp 101–110
C. R. Roast and J. I. Siddiqi (1996) Relating Knock-on Viscosity to Software Modifiability; Proceedings of OZCHI 96, Hamilton, New Zealand: IEEE Computer Society Press
J. I. A. Siddiqi and B. Ratcliff (1985) An Empirical Investigation into Problem Decomposition Strategies used in Program Design; International Journal of Man Machine Studies 22 pp 77–90
S. Yang and M. Burnett and E. DeKoven and M. Zloof (1995) Representation design benchmarks: a design–time aid for VPL navigable static representations Oregon State University; No TR 95–60–3
C. R. Roast and J. I. Siddiqi (eds) BCS–FACS Workshop on Formal Aspects of the Human Computer Interface, Sheffield Hallam University, 10–12 September 1996 Springer–Verlag, Electronic Workshops in Computing ISBN 3–540–76105–5
A. Blandford and H. Thimbleby (1996) HCI96 Industry Day & Adjunct Proceedings ISBN 1 85924 119 0
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer-Verlag London
About this paper
Cite this paper
Roast, C.R. (1997). Formally Comparing and Informing Notation Design. In: Thimbleby, H., O’Conaill, B., Thomas, P.J. (eds) People and Computers XII. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3601-9_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3601-9_19
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-76172-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3601-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive