The influence of user experience and presentation medium on strategies of viewing algorithms

Two empirical studies of the interaction between presentation medium and users' experience are reported. Subjects were presented with sets of algorithms that either showed their textual definition or demonstrated their behavior using graphics as an alternative presentation medium. Results of the first experiment showed an interaction between experience, presentation medium, and the algorithm itself. In particular, the presentation order plays a significant role. Textural presentations prior to graphical ones seem to provide the necessary framework for later assimilation of detailed information. A wide range of scan patterns was found. The findings suggest that textual and graphical presentation media differ in the way they facilitate understanding of algorithms. Furthermore, the great variety of viewing styles could be categorized according to the user's programming experience.<>