Hi-Visual(ID:5115/hiv001)

Iconic programming language
Related languages
Hi-Visual => IPL   Incorporated some features of
References:
  • Chang, Shi-Kuo "Visual Languages: A Tutorial and Survey" IEEE Software Volume 4 Number 1 1987 view details Extract: Introduction
    Research into visual languages is varied, and growing in popularity. The concept of generalized icons is a framework for the design of the next generation of visual languages.
    Low-cost systems that use visual languages to create, transmit, display, manipulate, and retrieve visual information are now feasible. Research into these information systems is spurred by the convergence of new technology in the fields of graphics, image processing, video, and microelectronics, and by the growing interest in multimedia communications.
    However, the term visual language means different things to different people. To some, it means that the objects handled by the language are visual -- a languagefor processing visual information or a visual information processing language. To others, it means the language itself is visual -- a languagefor programming with visual expression or a visualprogramming language.
    The first type, what I call visual information processing languages, usually deals with objects that have an inherent visual representation -- pictorial objects that are associated with a certain logical interpretation. The languages themselves, however, may not have a visual representation. Usually, these are traditional linear lan guages that have been enhanced with library subroutines or software packages to deal with visual objects. Visual information processing languages are used in applications like image processing, computer vision, robotics, image database management, office automation, and image communications.
    The second type, what I call visual programming languages, usually deals with objects that do not have an inherent visual representation. This includes traditional data types such as arrays, stacks, and queues and application data types such as forms, documents, and databases. Presenting these objects visually is helpful to the user. For the same reason, the languages themselves should be presented visually. In other words, both programming constructs and the rules to combine these constructs should be presented visually. Visual programming languages are used in applications like computer graphics, user interface design, database interface design, form management, and computer- aided design.
    These two types do not exhaust all the possibilities. The objects dealt with by a visual language can be inherently visual, or inherently non-visual but with imposed visual representation. The programming language constructs can be visual or linear. Therefore, there are four types of visual languages, which are summarized in Table 1.
    This classification is consistent with the classification of Shu, who distinguishes three types of visual languages, those that (l) support visual interaction, (2) allow programming with visual expressions, and (3) process visual information. The fourth category, not present in Shu's classification, is the visual language that deals with visual objects and is itself visually represented. I call this the iconic visual information processing language.
    Extract: Hi-Visual
    The Hi-Visual language developed at Hiroshima University by Ichikawa and his coworkers' employs icons to represent objects of an application domain, as well as the computation processes they perform[...]. In other words, Hi-Visual uses both object and process icons for visual interaction. In my classification scheme, therefore, Hi-Visual is an iconic visual information processing language. An earlier version dealt mostly with logical objects such as forms and documents, and is therefore classified as a language supporting visual interaction.
  • Hirakawa M., Iwata S., Yoshimoto I., Tanaka M. and Ichikawa T., "HI-VISUAL Iconic Programming" view details
          in Proceedings of the 1987 IEEE workshop Visual Languages view details
  • Hirakawa, Masahito, Minoru Tanaka, Tadao Ichikawa, An Iconic Programming System, HI-VISUAL view details Abstract: A framework for icon management which is quite object-oriented is proposed, and an iconic programming system named HI-VISUAL is presented on the basis of the framework. In the framework, icons represent real objects or concepts already established in a target application environment, whereas icons representing functions are not provided. A function is represented by a combination of two different icons. Each icon can take an active or a passive role against the other. The role sharing is determined dynamically, depending on the environment in which the icons are activated. Programming in HI-VISUAL and implementation issues of the system prototype, now in operation in a laboratory environment, are extensively discussed.
          in IEEE Trans. on Software Engineering, October, 1990 view details
  • Ichikawa, Tadao, Masahito Hirakawa, Iconic Programming: Where to Go? view details
          in IEEE Software, November 1990 view details
  • Hirakawa, Masahito, Yukihiro Nishimura, Motoji Kado, Tadao Ichikawa, Interpretation of Icon Overlapping in Iconic Programming view details
          in Proc. of the 1991 IEEE Workshop on Visual Languages, Kobe, Japan, October 1991 view details
  • Kado, M.; Hirakawa, M.; and Ichikawa, T. "HI-VISUAL for Hierarchical Development of Large Programs" view details
          in Proc 1992 IEEE Workshop on Visual Languages, Seattle, Washington, September 1992 view details
  • E. Miller, M. Kado, M. Hirakawa, T. Ichikawa "HI-VISUAL as a user-customizable visual programming environment" view details Abstract: Many visual programming languages and environments designed for non-experts have been proposed in recent years. However, most systems lack the ability for users to integrate applications required in their line of work into the system, and the ability to create meaningful data structures that facilitate the organizing and processing of their tasks. The paper describes extensions to the HI-VISUAL iconic programming system developed at Hiroshima University that addresses these problems. Features that support customization are described, and the merits and hazards of enabling end-user tailorability are discussed.
          in 11th International IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages September 05 - 09, 1995 Darmstadt, Germany view details
  • Yuichi Koike, Yasuyuki Maeda and Yoshiyuki Koseki "Improving Readability of Iconic Programs with Multiple View Object Representation" view details Abstract: One of the most important advantages of iconic programming language is its readability. In order to improve the readability of complicated iconic programs with many wire intersections and loops, we introduce a technique called "Multiple View Object representation". It enables that one program component can be represented as a number of nodes, that is, it provides the layout flexibility. By using the flexibility, programmers can transform a complicated iconic program into a number of simple iconic programs. An iconic programming system was implemented based on the technique and evaluated through practical application construction. The evaluation illustrated that the technique greatly reduces anti-readability factors, such as loops and wire intersections, of complicated programs.
          in 11th International IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages September 05 - 09, 1995 Darmstadt, Germany view details