visualizing systems
DESCRIPTION
Concise overview of 4 different types of diagrams for visualizing systems followed by brief treatment of animated approaches to explaining systems.TRANSCRIPT
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© Tim Sheiner, all rights reserved
Visualizing SystemsAn overview of the options
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© Tim Sheiner, all rights reserved
A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something.
Donella Meadows, Thinking in Systems
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Show me a picture
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Concept Structure
Dynamics
Behavior
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Visualizing System Behavior
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Graphs๏ Most standardized system visual
➡ Used to present recorded data ➡ Taught in schools, used (and abused) by large number of disciplines➡ Lots of software tools available for drawing these
๏ Several roughly synonymous names➡ graph➡ chart➡ plot
๏ Abstracted, non-representational view➡ Many types: line, bar, dot, spider, etc.➡ All based on cartesian system (x vs y)
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Line Graph Conventions
0
y (u
nits
)
5
7Origin x (units)
dependent variable
independent variable
Plot of y=x title
axis
axis
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Complex Example
key
2 y-axes
This is actually 3 graphs displayed on top of each other: 2 line charts and 1 bar chart
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Independent Variable not always Time
In drug development an important relationship is the response (dependent variable) or outcome that occurs for a given dose (independent variable) of a drug
Dose vs Response
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Simple plots are never “true”
recorded value
uncertainty
best “fit” This graph actually displays a great deal of qualifying information
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System response is probabilistic
% Inhibition
40
50
30
Probable Response at Dose log10-4 Progesterone (M)
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Visualizing System Dynamics
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Flow Diagrams๏ Represent system dynamics in a static form๏ Some standardized conventions
➡ standard generic flow chart conventions➡ detailed standards for engineering flow disciplines like electronics➡ attempts at standardization for systems theory
๏ Range from representational to schematic
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Generic Flow Chart ConventionsStart
Process Step 1
DecisionNo
A
Yes
Process Step 2
A
Process Step 2
End
“I’ve run out of space, find a similar symbol elsewhere in drawing to continue flow”
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Example of Electronics Conventions
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Heating Dynamics Representationally
Heat
Signal
Decision
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Heating Dynamics as Stocks & Flows
An existing standard for representing flow in classical system thinking literature.
Difficult to parse?
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Heating Dynamics as Flow Schematic
Alternative representation of thermostat system by Dubberly & Pangaro.
Cold air outside
is m
easu
red
by
can increase
input
output
Bi-metal coil Heater
System
Desired temperature e.g. 68º
air temperature in the room
low
ers
the
. . . is indicated by adjusting the temperature control lever which in turn moves the bi-metal coil; increasing the desired temperature moves the coil closer to the contact point; decreasing the desired temperature moves the coil further from the contact point
Why does a bi-metal coil bend? bi-metal coils consist of two layers of metal (usually iron and copper) joined together to form one flat strip; because the metals have different coefficients of expansion, the strip will bend in one direction as it cools, and the opposite direction as it warms
Contact point . . .bends to touch the. . . . (as it cools)
external electrical source
. . .bends the opposite direction to lose contact with the. . . (as it warms)
. . . . which sends a signal to the. . .
. . . . thus no signal is sent, and the heater shuts off
. . . sends current to. . .
41January 2010 | Developed by Paul Pangaro and Dubberly Design Office
Feedback: Classic ExampleThermostat regulating room temperature (via a heater)
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System
Goal
Environment
Disturbances
a Comparator
is embodied in
subtractsthe current state value
fromthe desired state value
to determinethe error
is m
easu
red
by affects the
. . . describes a relationship that a system desires to have with its environment
. . . may be characterized as certain types typically falling within a known range; but previously unseen types may emerge and values may vary beyond a known range; in such cases the system will fail because it does not have requisite variety
. . . has resolution – (Accuracy) frequency – (Latency) range – (Capacity)
. . . has resolution frequency range
can
affe
ct th
e
input
output
a Sensor passes the current state value to . . . . . . . . . . responds by driving an Actuator
39January 2010 | Developed by Paul Pangaro and Dubberly Design Office
Feedback: Formal Mechanism
Generic Flow Schematic
Combines flow and concept map conventions and is reasonably easy to ‘read.’
A better standard for systems flow visualizations?
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Visualizing System Structure
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Illustrations๏ Used to explain behavior or method of construction๏ Very standardized in some contexts
➡ Mechanical Engineering➡ Architecture
๏ Must be representational to be useful➡ Representation challenging for abstract systems➡ With abstract systems, illustrations of structure and flow diagrams
hard to distinguish from one another
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Standardized in Physical Disciplines
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Some Abstract Standardizations Exist
UML is an example of a standard for abstract systems that has some degree of penetration among object oriented programmers and system architects.
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Ad Hoc Structure for Abstract Systems
Current state of the art for illustrating the structure of an abstract system involves simple symbols, shapes, arrows & annotation
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Visualizing System Concepts
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Concept Maps๏ Used to communicate mental models๏ Present ideas and relationships
➡ Rely on text not symbols➡ Use arrows to communicate relationships not flow
๏ Not at all representational
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Concept Map Conventions
redrawn from http://redie.uabc.mx/contenido//vol2no1/art-11-eng/contenido-ruiz-figura1.png
is a
Concept Map
graph
nodes concepts
with
representing
linking lines
with
linking wordsthat have
relating that explain the
relationships between
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Concept Map Examples
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Animating System Visuals
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Animated System Visualizations๏ Static pictures are inherently limited in their ability to
explain dynamic systems๏ Animated presentations can provide a richer
communication experience➡ can use audio➡ can use time➡ can use feedback
๏ Animated presentations are systems in themselves➡ computer simulations➡ keyframes animations & videos➡ prototypes➡ new forms of content
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System Simulations
Most system simulation tools are too complex and proprietary for common use, but simpler, web-based tools are being developed.
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Keyframe Animations & Video
Click-thru mockups are a powerful form a system visualization.
They can be converted to videos to simulate the experience of interacting with the system.
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Interactive Prototype
An interactive prototype is a tool for creating a mental model in a person’s mind of a system that does not yet exist.
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New forms of content
Documents combining interactivity, words and sounds may eventually become a common way to explain systems.
Watch: http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_matas.html
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System Visualization Conclusions๏ Static pictures of systems are compact and portable๏ The right picture to produce depends upon what
aspect of a system you want to communicate or understand➡ Behavior = Graphs➡ Dynamics = Flow Diagrams➡ Structure = Illustrations➡ Concepts = Concept Maps
๏ Animated system visualizations convey more information than static presentations and may ultimately become the standard for describing systems