Analysing the cognitive effectiveness of the WebML visual notation

WebML is a domain-specific language used to design complex data-intensive Web applications at a conceptual level. As WebML was devised to support design tasks, the need to define a visual notation for the language was identified from the very beginning. Each WebML element is consequently associated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Software and systems modeling 2017-02, Vol.16 (1), p.195-227
Main Authors: Granada, David, Vara, Juan Manuel, Brambilla, Marco, Bollati, Verónica, Marcos, Esperanza
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applications programs
Assessments
Compilers
Computer Science
Design analysis
Design engineering
Design improvements
Empirical analysis
Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet)
Interpreters
IT in Business
Modelling
Programming Languages
Programming Techniques
Regular Paper
Software Engineering
Software Engineering/Programming and Operating Systems
Tasks
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Summary:WebML is a domain-specific language used to design complex data-intensive Web applications at a conceptual level. As WebML was devised to support design tasks, the need to define a visual notation for the language was identified from the very beginning. Each WebML element is consequently associated with a separate graphical symbol which was mainly defined with the idea of providing simple and expressive modelling artefacts rather than by adopting a rigorous scientific approach. As a result, the graphical models defined with WebML may sometimes prevent proper communication from taking place between the various stakeholders. In fact, this is a common issue for most of the existing model-based proposals that have emerged during the last few years under the umbrella of model-driven engineering. In order to illustrate this issue and foster in using a scientific basis to design, evaluate, improve and compare visual notations, this paper analyses WebML according to a set of solid principles, based on the theoretical and empirical evidence concerning the cognitive effectiveness of visual notations. As a result, we have identified a set of possible improvements, some of which have been verified by an empirical study. Furthermore, a number of findings, experiences and lessons learnt on the assessment of visual notations are presented.
ISSN:1619-1366
1619-1374
DOI:10.1007/s10270-014-0447-8