Cognitive Dimensions of PrologSpace

We evaluate a new visual programming system PrologSpace. The system addresses classic issues of visual interfaces: layout, shape, colour, and iconography; and those of particular concern to visual programming: multiple views (visual abstractions), synchronised views, integration of visual and textual dimensions, visual debugging, cognitive dimensions, and the problems of scale. We describe the system and examine its cognitive dimensions. We conclude that PrologSpace has a set of cognitive dimensions that seems to enhance Prolog programming and that the system provides potential for teaching Prolog. Keywords Visual programming, cognitive dimensions, Prolog. 1 Introduction PrologSpace is a visual programming system built on top of VisualProlog (a version of Prolog that provides support for X windows, widget creation and management, 3D graphics and animation, and audio [5]). PrologSpace provides all the power of VisualProlog to the application developer. We have chosen to evaluate Prolo..