Constraint Graphs: A Concept Map Meta-Language
(PhD Dissertation)
Constraint Graphs: A Concept Map Meta-Language
(PhD Dissertation)
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Abstract
Concept maps are visual graphs, consisting of nodes, which represent concepts,
and arcs, which represent relationships between the concepts. Concept maps
are used in a wide variety of disciplines because of their ability to make
complex information structures explicit. There are a wide variety of concept
mapping languages ranging from informal to formal; all share the same fundamental
structure (nodes and arcs), but they vary in many ways, including degree
of formality (typing), allowable component types, component graphical attributes,
inclusion of contexts, and miscellaneous constraints. There is a large
design space in concept mapping languages and each design is difficult
and time consuming to implement. A simple way to prototype new concept
mapping languages (and modify old ones) would be a very useful tool.
Constraint Graphs is a system designed to address this problem. The
idea is to define a minimal concept mapping system, then let the end-user
build a language based on these fundamental components. The base system
is a very flexible concept mapping tool which is unconstrained except for
the very fundamentals of graph theory (even n-ary arcs are allowed). In
addition to "vanilla" nodes and arcs the system has an "isa" arc type which
can be used to create a type lattice within the map. Constraints based
on the type lattice allow a user the flexibility to use informal concept
maps, to use a wide variety of formalisms, or to gradually constrain an
informal concept map into a formal one.
The properties of such a "meta-visual language" avails itself to a variety
of new applications including experimentation in concept map formalisms
and powerful type checking tools for visual notations such as are used
in knowledge modeling and decision making.
Preamble
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Background: Visual Languages and their Domains
Chapter 3: Background: Types, Objects, and Specification
Chapter 4: Requirements Analysis
Chapter 5: Specification
Chapter 6: Design and Implementation
Chapter 7: Some Visual Languages Implemented in Constraint Graphs
Chapter 8: Extensions and Variations
Chapter 9: Conclusion
References
Constraint
Graphs: A Concept Map Meta-Language (PhD Dissertation), Department
of Computer Science