Modeling pragmatics for visual modeling language evaluation

Abstract

While evaluating usability of Visual Modeling Languages (VMLs) there is a need to take into account their pragmatics. VMLs can be applied in several contexts of use which might pose contradictory requirements for their evaluation. Thus, an explicit description of the context in which a VML is used, facilitates precise evaluation. Pragmatics consists of several profiles which describe concrete contexts of VML use.This paper attempts to apply task-oriented approaches for modeling the pragmatics profiles. First, it presents reasons for modeling pragmatics and discusses expected benefits for usability evaluation. When defining the role of pragmatics it uses some inspirations from linguistics. Then, it analyses the area of VML and extracts artifacts which need to be modeled. And finally, it discusses use of task-oriented approaches for this purpose and adapts some concepts.