Dear Filippo,
Turn the picture of your up-hill battle upside down then it is down hill all
the way.
Seriously try and get your engineers to image their work without diagrams.
Maybe they will come around.
In faith
Cheryl
Den 04-06-07 14.45, skrev "Filippo A. Salustri" <[log in to unmask]>:
> Picking up on one thing Cheryl wrote:
>
> cheryl akner-koler wrote:
>> [...]
>>
>> All I know is that is we continue to ignoring research (as it seems Keith
>> implies) in what modernism called visual language, or basic design, then
>> we will end up with an archaic way of sharing this knowledge. If design is
>> not interested in supporting a continued devoted search into what non
>> metaphorical, non figurative expressions involve then we will stifle the
>> development of gestalt at the other end of the loop. The parts making the
>> whole must be in tune with the expressions of our life values today.
>> [...]
>
> I noted the phrase "visual language". For what it's worth, I find a lack
> of acceptance in engineering design for 'visual languages' too.
>
> Perhaps I use the term differently: generally, a visual language is one
> that communicates a holistic sense of the 'topic' by a holistic
> consideration of the "text" (for lack of a better word). In simpler words,
> a "diagram" can communicate the holistic aspects of a thing better than
> linear text.
>
> And even tho engineering texts are chock full of diagrams, rarely if ever
> is the importance of 'diagrammatic communication' given its due in practice.
>
> I'm currently trying to develop tools to support the use of diagrams
> instead of text to communicate engineering design information and to assist
> in 'reasoning' about design problems and solutions. But I'm really finding
> it an up-hill battle, cuz my audience (practicing engineers and engineering
> managers) seems completely stunned by the notion that a picture really can
> be worth a thousand words....
>
> 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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