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Using spatial logic to describe visual languages

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Abstract

Visual computer languages exploit the natural language of diagrams and pictures to provide a simple and intelligible approach to programming. Unfortunately, it is difficult to provide them with a formal syntax and semantics. In this paper we show how the RCC spatial calculus can be used to provide an unambiguous, formal description of such languages by systematically describing the syntax of Pictorial Janus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Artificial Intelligence, School of Computer Studies, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, England

    J. M. Gooday & A. G. Cohn

Authors
  1. J. M. Gooday
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  2. A. G. Cohn
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Additional information

The support of the EPSRC under grants GR/G 36852, GR/H 78955 is gratefully acknowledged. This work has also been partially supported by a CEC ESPRIT basic research action, MEDLAR II, 6471. We gratefully acknowledge discussions with Ken Kahn and Vijay Saraswat when Tony Cohn visited Xerox Parc in 1991 and with Volker Haarslev in Hamburg in 1995.

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Gooday, J.M., Cohn, A.G. Using spatial logic to describe visual languages. Artif Intell Rev 10, 171–186 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00127678

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