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Reflecting on the Physics of Notations applied to a visualisation case study

Published: 21 September 2016 Publication History

Abstract

This paper presents a critical reflection upon the concept of 'physics of notations' proposed by Moody. This is based upon the post hoc application of the concept in the analysis of a visualisation tool developed for a common place mathematics tool. Although this is not the intended design and development approach presumed or preferred by the physics of notations, there are benefits to analysing an extant visualisation. In particular, our analysis benefits from the visualisation having been developed and refined employing graphic design professionals and extensive formative user feedback. Hence the rationale for specific visualisation features is to some extent traceable. This reflective analysis shines a light on features of both the visualisation and domain visualised, illustrating that it could have been analysed more thoroughly at design time. However the same analysis raises a variety of interesting questions about the viability of scoping practical visualisation design in the framework proposed by the physics of notations.

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  • (2021)Conceptualization, measurement, and application of semantic transparency in visual notationsSoftware and Systems Modeling10.1007/s10270-021-00888-9Online publication date: 19-May-2021

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cover image ACM Other conferences
MexIHC'16: Proceedings of the 6th Mexican Conference on Human-Computer Interaction
September 2016
52 pages
ISBN:9781450347822
DOI:10.1145/2967175
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Published: 21 September 2016

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  1. Notations
  2. Spreadsheets
  3. Visualisation

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  • (2021)Conceptualization, measurement, and application of semantic transparency in visual notationsSoftware and Systems Modeling10.1007/s10270-021-00888-9Online publication date: 19-May-2021

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