This is an SGER award to investigate the use of visual programming languages via pen-based computers. The basic hypothesis to be tested is the utility of the pen-base programming approach in a human-computer interactive sense as compared with other approaches such as mouse-based visual programming. Also those aspects of pen- based machines that make them particularly suitable for graphics programming ar investigated. The approach consists of converting an existing visual programming system to the pen-based environment, moving from an iconic structure to a system capable of accepting hand-drawn diagrams. Then the two systems are compared for usability, facility, and general user acceptance. Collaborative pen-based work is also considered in the process of investigating the visual pen-based programming approach.
