Language visualisation: Applications and theoretical foundations of a primitive-based approach

摘要

Language visualisation consists of using consistent and systematic mappings between language expressions and graphical forms, where the graphical forms constitute or convey the meaning of the expressions. Primitive-based applications are described for both natural and artificial language (story visualisation and program visualisation, respectively). On the basis of these and other applications some foundational concepts are identified in a bottom-up theory of visualisation. A universal visualisation system architecture is proposed, as is a basic visual object taxonomy for classifying any visualisation object. Also, preliminary steps are taken towards constructing a top-down theory.