Résumé: Visual programming languages aim to broaden the use of diagrams within the software industry, to the extent that they are integrated into the programming language itself. As a result, they provide an ideal opportunity to study the benefits of diagrams as an external representation during problem solving: not only is programming a challenging problem-solving activity, but the effect of diagram usage can be directly assessed by comparing performance while using a visual programming language to performance with a standard textual language. There have been several misconceptions amongst visual language researchers regarding the role of diagrams in software design, but these are being addressed by empirical studies and by new theories of notation design derived from studies of visual programming. Based on this research, the authors are able to recommend several new directions for research into thinking with diagrams.

Langue: Anglais