Affiliation: | a Computer Science Department-ICEX, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-010 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil b Institute of Computing — IC, Unicamp, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Barão Geraldo, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil |
Abstract: | The design of computational artifacts involves many communication acts occurring through different channels; usability tests, for example, have been used as a main communication channel between designers and users. Other channels used during the design process include requirement analysis, scenario construction, prototyping, etc. This work takes the Westley and MacLehan communication model and projects it into the context of interactive artifact design, resulting in a model of fractal nature. Some channels already present during the design process fit in well with the model we are proposing. It also reveals that other channels have not been explored in the global process of communication. Thus, we show how a semiotic-based analysis can unify techniques, methods and tools that support design, as well as make explicit the necessary interactions among designers, users and computers through different channels. |