Abstract
In mobile information systems, the location of the user when performing tasks may be important to take into account during development. Yet, mainstream process models seldom capture this aspect. In previous papers we have evaluated analytically a number of small adaptations for showing location of actions in UML activity diagrams. Two of the most promising adaptations have also been evaluated experimentally. However, another notation alternative that got a quite positive score in the analytical evaluation has not been experimentally evaluated, namely a notation attaching symbolic icons to the activity nodes. This paper reports on an experiment comparing this notation to the most promising one from previous experiments (colour). The results showed no significant difference between the two notations, neither in the quality of answers to the experimental task, the time spent performing the task, nor in opinions about the notation alternatives, as investigated in a post-task questionnaire.
Paper Type
Event
Activity diagrams with location context: Experimental comparison of colour and icon annotations
In mobile information systems, the location of the user when performing tasks may be important to take into account during development. Yet, mainstream process models seldom capture this aspect. In previous papers we have evaluated analytically a number of small adaptations for showing location of actions in UML activity diagrams. Two of the most promising adaptations have also been evaluated experimentally. However, another notation alternative that got a quite positive score in the analytical evaluation has not been experimentally evaluated, namely a notation attaching symbolic icons to the activity nodes. This paper reports on an experiment comparing this notation to the most promising one from previous experiments (colour). The results showed no significant difference between the two notations, neither in the quality of answers to the experimental task, the time spent performing the task, nor in opinions about the notation alternatives, as investigated in a post-task questionnaire.
Recommended Citation
Gopalakrishnan, S. & Sindre, G. (2016). Activity diagrams with location context: Experimental comparison of colour and icon annotations. In J. Gołuchowski, M. Pańkowska, C. Barry, M. Lang, H. Linger, & C. Schneider (Eds.), Information Systems Development: Complexity in Information Systems Development (ISD2016 Proceedings). Katowice, Poland: University of Economics in Katowice. ISBN: 978-83-7875-307-0. http://aisel.aisnet.org/isd2014/proceedings2016/ISDContext/1.