An ontology-based process for domain-specific visual language design
da Silva Teixeira, Maria das Graças · Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) · 2017
In Conceptual Modeling, there has been a growing interest in Domain-Specifc Visual Modeling Languages (DSVML) and the support they provide for problem domain understanding and communication between stakeholders. Thus, it is important to provide guidelines for designing DSVMLs. For many years, the research focus has been on abstract syntax, whilst concrete syntax has received lower attention. This is unfortunate, because the visual syntax has a significant impact on the efficiency of the communication and problem solving capabilities of conceptual models. One of the most widespread work for analysis and design of visual aspects of modeling languages is the Physics of Notations (PoN). PoN defines a set of principles used for analyzing and designing cognitively effective visual notations. However, PoN has shortcomings, as: (i) it lacks a method to apply its principles; (ii) the design of symbols does not systematically create symbols that reflect entities in the real-world. In this work, we present the Physics of Notations Systematized (PoN-S) for solving shortcoming (i). PoN-S establishes an ordered set of design activities and suggests when to apply the PoN principles. Also, it proposes groups of PoN principles. Another way for improving the DSVML quality involves the application of ontological theories, but can ontologies be successfully applied in the design of concrete syntax as it has been applied for abstract syntax? Guizzardi (2013) proposes some Unified Foundational Ontology (UFO)-based guidelines that helps in the design of visual notations. However, also these guidelines have some shortcomings: (iii) The guidelines are isolated guidelines and not part of a design process; (iv) The set of considered constructs and, thus, the set of ontological distinctions considered is restricted; (v) The ontological guidelines are restricted to be applied in the establishment of the DSVML symbols activity. To solve shortcomings (ii) till (v) we combined the UFO-based guidelines with PoN-S, giving rise to the Physics of Notations Ontologized and Systematized (PoNTO-S). PoNTO-S is a systematic design process of DSVML concrete syntax that connects the concrete syntax and the real-world (i.e., ontological) semantics. This research is a Design Science project with different iterations, each one producing their own artifacts. The design problem faced is the design of DSVML concrete syntaxes. The artifacts, PoN-S and PoNTO-S, were improvements upon two existing solutions of the problem: PoN theory and UFO-based guidelines. These artifacts can be classified as design theories, as they are design processes. Also, we invested in empirical studies. We performed exploratory studies to support the indications collected in the literature review and guide some decisions. After developing releases of PoN-S and PoNTO-S we applied one experiment and two case studies that generated evidences for us to concluded that PoN-S and PoNTO-S are helpful in the language development, and that both approaches can evolve, given rise to more useful approaches.