student
Diagrams as Tools in the Design of Information
Systems
Jeffrey V. Nickerson,
Stevens Institute of Technology, USA
James E. Corter, Barbara Tversky,
Columbia University, USA
Doris Zahner,
Stevens Institute of Technology, USA
and Yun Jin Rho
Columbia University, USA
Design typically relies on diagrams to offload memory and information processing and to promote discovery and inferences. Design of information systems, in contrast to design of buildings and products, depends on topological connectivity rather than Euclidean distance. Understanding graph topology and manipulating graphs are essential skills in the design of information systems, because graph manipulation facilitates the refinement of designs and the generation of alternative designs. Here, we found that students of systems design have difficulties interpreting diagrams, revealing two biases, a sequential bias and a reading order bias. The results have implications for teaching as well as diagram design.
Design Computing and Cognition DCC’08. J.S. Gero and
A. Goel (eds), pp. 103-122. © Springer 2008
103
104
J. V. Nickerson, J. E. Corter, B. Tversky, D. Zahner, Y. Rho
Introduction
Design entails arranging and rearranging real or virtual objects and parts and evaluating the resulting configurations. Although the mind seems to have almost unlimited space to passively store information, its space for actively manipulating information is highly limited. When the mind runs out of mental space, it often turns to external space, using fingers and hands, salt and pepper shakers, the proverbial napkin, and, especially, paper. Sketches, diagrams, charts, models, and other externalizations of the workings of the mind serve many roles in thinking. They support memory, information processing, inferences, and discovery. They structure, reflect, and express ideas, for oneself and for others. They use elements and spatial relations in external space to represent the
Systems
Jeffrey V. Nickerson,
Stevens Institute of Technology, USA
James E. Corter, Barbara Tversky,
Columbia University, USA
Doris Zahner,
Stevens Institute of Technology, USA
and Yun Jin Rho
Columbia University, USA
Design typically relies on diagrams to offload memory and information processing and to promote discovery and inferences. Design of information systems, in contrast to design of buildings and products, depends on topological connectivity rather than Euclidean distance. Understanding graph topology and manipulating graphs are essential skills in the design of information systems, because graph manipulation facilitates the refinement of designs and the generation of alternative designs. Here, we found that students of systems design have difficulties interpreting diagrams, revealing two biases, a sequential bias and a reading order bias. The results have implications for teaching as well as diagram design.
Design Computing and Cognition DCC’08. J.S. Gero and
A. Goel (eds), pp. 103-122. © Springer 2008
103
104
J. V. Nickerson, J. E. Corter, B. Tversky, D. Zahner, Y. Rho
Introduction
Design entails arranging and rearranging real or virtual objects and parts and evaluating the resulting configurations. Although the mind seems to have almost unlimited space to passively store information, its space for actively manipulating information is highly limited. When the mind runs out of mental space, it often turns to external space, using fingers and hands, salt and pepper shakers, the proverbial napkin, and, especially, paper. Sketches, diagrams, charts, models, and other externalizations of the workings of the mind serve many roles in thinking. They support memory, information processing, inferences, and discovery. They structure, reflect, and express ideas, for oneself and for others. They use elements and spatial relations in external space to represent the
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