Dear Fil:
The problem as I see it is that we fail to make effective and systematically
correlated use of different forms of representation: declarations,
descriptions, topological structures, (Diagrams, graphs etc.), situated
visualizations, temporal processes, empirical differentiations, and stories
in particular. Why emphasize one at the expense of the others? They all have
their uses and deserve their place in the firmament whether that is the
domain of Engineering or not.
Best,
Charles Burnette
On 6/8/04 4:51 PM, "Filippo A. Salustri" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Keith,
>
> Engineers make things "official" with text (except for the CAD models).
> But there's 'way more information that's needed to design than just CAD
> models. All that other info gets captured in text. The difficulty of
> understanding the text makes people stay away from it - leading to errors
> in design cuz they don't bother reading the stuff they ought to. And even
> if they do, the interrelationships described in linear text often become
> very confusing.
>
> However, using diagrams has in informal tests shown to improve (a) speed of
> 'comprehension' of information, (b) retainment of that information, (c)
> speed with which "issues" including both problems and opportunities for
> novelty are identified.
>
> So it seems (to me) that diagrams better represent certain types of
> (engineering) design info than does plain text. That shouldn't surprise
> non-engineering designers. It is, however, a constant source of amazement
> to my colleages. Go figure.
>
> I just pitched it out as my little story about diagrams.
>
> Cheers.
> Fil
>
> Keith Russell wrote:
>> Dear Fil,
>>
>> I'm not sure what the example you provide shows - if I show a reader of
>> English a "novel" sentence and they understand it without reference to
>> the grammar, syntax, phonetics etc, I wouldn't be at all surprised.
>>
>> Show illustrations that include "nouns" (gears) and "verbs" (arrrows) in
>> structure relationships is a language - yes.
>>
>> 700 technical words might take more time but that is a matter of choice
>> just as the pictures are a matter of choice. (650 good words might take
>> less?)
>>
>> If there were elements of "novelty" at the level of grammar and/or
>> syntax in the illustration then I am sure the amount of time required to
>> "read" the pictures would go up.
>>
>> Keith Russell
>> OZ Newcastle
>>
>>
>> Filippo A. Salustri
>>
>> I have a diagram of a gear system. There are a few text labels, but
>> mostly
>> the diagram is a bunch of partly or completely overlapping boxes with
>> some
>> arrows connecting them up. I show the diagram to a group of engineers.
>> I
>> tell them they have 15 seconds to study the diagram, and that I will
>> then
>> ask them questions.
>> Cheers.
>> Fil
>
> --
> Prof. Filippo A. Salustri, Ph.D., P.Eng.
> Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
> Ryerson University Tel: 416/979-5000 x7749
> 350 Victoria St. Fax: 416/979-5265
> Toronto, ON email: [log in to unmask]
> M5B 2K3 Canada http://deed.ryerson.ca/~fil/
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