Cognition of Graphical Notation for Processing Data in ERDAS IMAGINE

Abstract

This article presents an evaluation of the ERDAS IMAGINE Spatial Model Editor from the perspective of effective cognition. Workflow models designed in Spatial Model Editor are used for the automatic processing of remote sensing data. The process steps are designed as a chain of operations in the workflow model. The functionalities of the Spatial Model Editor and the visual vocabulary are both important for users. The cognitive quality of the visual vocabulary increases the comprehension of workflows during creation and utilization. The visual vocabulary influences the user’s exploitation of workflow models. The complex Physics of Notations theory was applied to the visual vocabulary on ERDAS IMAGINE Spatial Model Editor. The results were supplemented and verified using the eye-tracking method. The evaluation of user gaze and the movement of the eyes above workflow models brought real insight into the user’s cognition of the model. The main findings are that ERDAS Spatial Model Editor mostly fulfils the requirements for effective cognition of visual vocabulary. Namely, the semantic transparency and dual coding of symbols are very high, according to the Physics of Notations theory. The semantic transparency and perceptual discriminability of the symbols are verified through eye-tracking. The eye-tracking results show that the curved connector lines adversely affect the velocity of reading and produce errors. The application of the Physics of Notations theory and the eye-tracking method provides a useful evaluation of graphical notation as well as recommendations for the user design of workflow models in their practice.

Keywords

• Spatial Model Editor
• Physics of Notations theory
• raster data
• visual programming language
• workflow
• eye-tracking