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GW Chapter 11 Software SpecificationLecture
18
Methods

• Prepared by
• Stephen M. Thebaut, Ph.D.
• University of Florida

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Using Visual Tools to Supplement our Left-Brain
(Verbal) Tools

• Arguing about pictures doesnt seem to acquire
  the same violence as arguing about words.
• To be useful, a map must contain information
  enough to make it worth our while to study it,
  but not so much that our capacity for
  understanding is overwhelmed.

Software Specification GW Chapter 11
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Mapping Tools

• Sketching
• Typical in developing physical products.
• Not taught to info system developers, whose work
  often suffers from overly precise notations used
  too early.
• Wiggling a sketching technique using wiggly
  lines to indicate incomplete precision in part of
  the diagram.

Software Specification GW Chapter 11
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Braindrawing a Visual Variant of Brainstorming

• Participants start a drawing and then pass it on
  others for refinement.
• After a few cycles, drawings are mounted in an
  art gallery and presented by someone who didnt
  contribute to it.

Software Specification GW Chapter 11
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Right-Braining

• Goal is to encourage partial thoughts and ideas
  to be conveyed as images (as with the Chapter 10
  lecture notes.)
• The visual form may reveal ambiguities that the
  verbal form concealed.
• Every process we use can be right-brained,
  revealing verbal assumptions, stimulating new
  ideas, and letting our left brain relax for a
  change.

Software Specification GW Chapter 11
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Exercise

• Use braindrawing to develop a creative solution
  for the following problem
• Develop a well-equipped, on-campus
  transportation device for todays college
  student.

Software Specification GW Chapter 11
7
GW Chapter 11 Software SpecificationLecture
18
Methods

• Prepared by
• Stephen M. Thebaut, Ph.D.
• University of Florida