Visual Languages and Applications

Citation

Hutton, D.M. (2008), "Visual Languages and Applications", Kybernetes, Vol. 37 No. 9/10, pp. 1581-1582. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920810907887

The whole area of research and development into “Visual Languages” provides a fascinating study. Almost everyone who has worked in the human‐machine field has sought to harness such languages in their pursuit of an effective means of communication between the computer user and the computer.

This is a book that provides information about visual languages with the author referring to them as “diagrammatical” languages. Kang Zhang does, however, introduce such languages and explains in a very detailed introduction what he means and how they can be used. He believes and explains how such languages can be used in a wide range of computer applications. In addition the point is made that the way in which they were formulated can be usefully applied in other areas of computing.

His interpretaion is wide‐ranging and the theoretical basis of the formulation of vision‐based communication languages is well presented. There is little doubt that the need at the present time for new and effective communications between user and machines is an area that demands urgent attention. There are numerous attempts currently at producing systems that will allow us to interact with computer systems without resorting to complex programming languages, many of which are still ill‐defined and lacking in adequate software systems backing. The author does discuss the foundation theory of graph grammars which strengthens the case for a truly in‐depth programme of research into visual languages and most important of all their current applications and future contribution to the human computer interface developments.

This book provides a valuable stepping stone to such investigations which now would be welcomed by those who demand efficient communication with electronic systems. Currently, we see the internet and the sophisticated mobile devices now available as being applications that would have immediate benefit from advances in visual communications. If we are not careful we will move into the next era of technological development without the appropriate means of efficient communication and fast and accurate interaction. The mass appeal of the coming new systems will perhaps force more fruitful activity in this area. In that respect this book offers, perhaps a retrospective view of visual languages and their applications and maybe a spur for greater activity. The author does suggest on many occasions links to other computer fields and how his text could be supplemented by other literature.