Visual query systems (VQSs) are query systems for databases that use visual representations to depict the domain of interest and express related requests. VQSs can be seen as an evolution of query languages adopted into database management systems; they are designed to improve the effectiveness of the human?computer communication. Thus, their most important features are those that determine the nature of the human?computer dialogue. In order to survey and compare existing VQSs used for querying traditional databases, we first introduce a classification based on such features, namely the adopted visual representations and the interaction strategies. We then identify several user types and match the VQS classes against them, in order to understand which kind of system may be suitable for each kind of user. We also report usability experiments which support our claims. Finally, some of the most important open problems in the VQS area are described.

Visual Query Systems for Databases

There has been a great interest recently in systems that use graphics to aid in the programming, debugging, and understanding of computer programs. The terms “Visual Programming” and “Program Visualization” have been applied to these systems. Also, there has been a renewed interest in using examples to help alleviate the complexity of programming. This technique is called “Programming by Example.” This paper attempts to provide more meaning to these terms by giving precise definitions, and then uses these definitions to classify existing systems into a taxonomy. A number of common unsolved problems with most of these systems are also listed.

Visual programming, programming by example, and program visualization: a taxonomy

Visual languages have been developed to help new programmers express algorithms easily. They also help to make experienced programmers more productive by simplifying the organization of a program through the use of visual representations. However, visual languages have not reached their full potential because of several problems including the following: difficulty of producing visual representations for the more abstract computing constructs; the lack of adequate computing power to update the visual representations in response to user actions; the immaturity of the subfield of visual programming and need for additional breakthroughs and standardization of existing mechanisms. Visualization of Vision Algorithms (VIVA) is a proposed visual language for image processing. Its main purpose is to serve as an effective teaching tool for students of image processing. Its design also takes account of several secondary goals, including the completion of a software platform for research in human/image interaction, the creation of a vehicle for studying algorithms and architectures for parallel image processing, and the establishment of a presentation medium for image-processing algorithms.

VIVA: A visual language for image processing

We describe a data model for structured office information objects, which we generically call “documents,” and a practically useful algebraic language for the retrieval and manipulation of such objects. Documents are viewed as hierarchical structures; their layout (presentation) aspect is to be treated separately. The syntax and semantics of the language are defined precisely in terms of the formal model, an extended relational algebra.The proposed approach has several new features, some of which are particularly useful for the management of office information. The data model is based on nested sequences of tuples rather than nested relations. Therefore, sorting and sequence operations and the explicit handling of duplicates can be described by the model. Furthermore, this is the first model based on a many-sorted instead of a one-sorted algebra, which means that atomic data values as well as nested structures are objects of the algebra. As a consequence, arithmetic operations, aggregate functions, and so forth can be treated inside the model and need not be introduced as query language extensions to the model. Many-sorted algebra also allows arbitrary algebra expressions (with Boolean result) to be admitted as selection or join conditions and the results of arbitrary expressions to be embedded into tuples. In contrast to other formal models, this algebra can be used directly as a rich query language for office documents with precisely defined semantics.

An algebra for structured office documents

A model for collaborative work process and a graphical language to support this model is presented. The model allows for informal flow of communications and flexible access to information along with a formal flow of responsibility. This approach results in a model of a work process in terms of the communications that team members must make in order to coordinate their tasks. The systems is designed with the intent that the planning activity itself is accomplished in a collaborative way, with many people having input to and control over different parts of the plan. This is contrasted to approaches where the work process is modeled according to the work being done and where the process is either fixed or is entered by a single person.

A Business Process Environment Supporting Collaborative Planning

Formal: A Forms-Oriented, Visual-Directed Application Development System

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Formal: A Forms-Oriented, Visual-Directed Application Development System