How Should We Do Conceptual Analysis of Visual Images - Essay Example

Conceptual Analysis Conceptual analysis Sowa) Diagramming techniques Sowa describes conceptual graphs as picture representations of concept nodes and relational nodes. He says that the concept nodes are a representative of entities, attributes, states, and events. Relational nodes are representatives of the concept relationship to each other. Sowa continues to say that a conceptual graph is a finite connected bipartite that is made of concepts and conceptual relations. There is one or more arc in a conceptual graph and every arc is related to a concept (John, 1984). The technique may use tow or three dimensional visualization but, at the final stage the information will be visualized into the two dimensional surface. Sowa instigates that diagrams are simplified figures that convey intended message in a simple manner without using many words (John, 1984). In his work he describes several diagramming techniques that are very relevant in conveying messages in a simplified manner. There are many diagramming methods including flow charts, entity relationship, data-flow, and object oriented diagrams (John, 1984). This paper will analyze several diagramming techniques. Data-flow diagramming technique Data-flow technique is a means of representing information or a system regardless of the level involved using symbols that show the flow of data, network of data, data processes and data stores. The main purpose of using data flow technique is to provide a systematic between users and system developers. Using data flow charts has a variety of advantages. The first advantage is that it reduces the amount of words that would have been used in explanation of the intended message. The second advantage is that data flow representation builds a systematic way of disseminating information. It shows the logical sequence of the data being represented. Thirdly, it represents the information in a hierarchical manner, showing every details of a system at any level. Fourthly, it is user friendly in that it allows users to understand the information being represented and gives the user an opportunity for review. Every user of data flow has a main goal of having a commonly understood model of a system. Data flows are made up of four main components that are external entity, data flow, data store, and process. State transmission diagrams They are diagrams used in object oriented models. They help in definition of machines that have a number of states. These machines receive events from external environment and the events drive the machine in rotation from one state to the other. This kind of diagramming technique helps in giving the explicit definition of a machine and its behavior. One feature that makes this technique unique is its ability to generalize states. This ability allows the factoring of common transitions. State models are suitable when describing behavioral changes of a single object. Flow charts Flow charts are diagrams that represent processes. They show steps of an event in the sequence using various steps and connecting the steps in using arrows to indicate the flow direction. Flow charts are used in analyzing of processes, documentation of the processes and management of the processes in various categories. Flow charts have various uses. They can also be used to create organizational charts and other formalized structures. Flow charts use geometric symbols and arrows in relations definition. These arrows show the beginning or the end of the process (John, 1984). Flow charts carry a similar function like other types of diagrams. They help in visualization of a process hence helping the user to understand deeper the meaning or flow of that process (John, 1984). There are different types of flow charts and each has its own design and notional conventions. There are two common types of boxes in a flowchart. The first type is a processing step identified as an activity. Its denotations are rectangular in shape. The second type is a decision which is denoted as a diamond. Flowcharts are described as cross-functional where the pages in use are divided in different swim lanes (John, 1984). The lanes must be describing the control of different organizational units. For example, a symbol appearing in a particular lane is identified to be within the control of that organizational unit. Flowcharts depict certain aspects of processes (John, 1984). They are completed by drawing diagrams. Flow charts can be document flowcharts, data flowcharts, system flowcharts, or program flowcharts. They help best explain how a system works by the use of a visual diagram. They are also helpful in brainstorming of ideas and plans. They demonstrate a high level of strategies application (John, 1984). 2. (Hall) How should we do conceptual analysis of visual images? The term visual communication or analysis of visual images refers to the idea of communicating using images or visual arts connected to words. The French intellectual and semioticians had a tendency to refer to everything as ‘text’ because words are also symbols. But text may be too restrictive and too narrow-minded as a metaphor. Words are just a representative and are not the thing itself. The French knew too well that words could take up symbolic meaning; hence, they referred to everything as text. For example, the word black was has been used for political ideologies. It became a vastly charged symbol of political and social authenticities and realities for African Americans in the 1960s. Hall stipulates that using text to describe everything may be problematic for the intended user but implementing the use of conceptual analysis techniques, the intended message may be relayed using simple diagrams. He suggests that pictures are worth more than texts (Hall, 2012). He sites that pictures are worth more than a thousand words. Conceptual analysis is done by analyzing images and categorizing them. Images are divided into narratives and conceptual. The classifications put images into two different classes. The fast class is of those images with components of actions and the second class is of images that are static and possess a timeless essence (Hall, 2012). These classifications help to show that it may be too restrictive and narrow-minded to refer to everything in ‘text’ (Hall, 2012). Through conceptual analysis, a person may be able to tell or convey deeper messages than by using text or words. For example, the visual art below is used to describe a home set up. The art has critically analyzed all aspects that would have taken may be more than two pages to describe using words. The intended user of this information will grasp the content even without explanation. The art is used to create an overview of what a person should expect in the set up. Visual analysis helps in grasping and understanding the visual choices the artist made in the creation of the art work. Visual analysis can be done through observation and writing about separate parts of the project. Is such a way, the person doing the analysis is in a better position to understand the intended purpose or meaning of the art object as a whole. The analysis will be used to address the artwork’s formal elements. In order to complete a visual analysis, a person is expected to pay close attention to an object. After analysis, a person is supposed to translate the visual observations into words. There are several elements of completing a visual analysis. The first element is to observe the art work and write down the observations. During this step, a person is supposed to consider the composition of the art work in details. The second element is to formulate the main claim from the art. A claim may be made through overall organization of the work of art. The third element is to support the claim with visual details. Unlike text, visual images communicate primarily through images and most of the time, the two interact to create a strong message. Analyzing an image helps a person grasp more understanding of the message. Images have more impact than words. Analysis is done when an author, an audience, and a context join and as a result a persuasive message is created. Sean Hall elaborates further in his book ‘This Means This and This Means That’ where he expounds on semiotics. The book is geared towards opening the minds of people to the in-depth meaning carried by graphic representation. He argues that semiotics subsumes textual, graphical, and interactive communication methods (Hall, 2012). He engages in using flowcharts, drawings, and directory trees as part of his diagrammatic language. Diagrams are used to show internal meaning rather than telling what the writer means. The visual art below is used to describe the process. If words or texts were to be used, it would take many of them to express what the visual art expresses in a very self-explanatory means. 3. (Regoczei) Concepts of thermodynamic and administrative systems Concepts of thermodynamics and administrative systems are defined in system theory. They are categorized in open systems. Regoczei (2007) describes concepts of thermodynamics and administrative systems open systems that continuously interact with their environment. They may take shape in form of information, energy or material transfer in and out of a system. Thermodynamic is a description of changes presented by temperature, transformation of energy, and relationship between heat and work. It acts as an engineering tool that describes the performance of propulsion systems. It describes power generation systems. It also describes the functioning of refrigerators, fluid flow and combustion (Regoczei, 2007). Thermodynamics is applied into a wide variety of uses. It developed due to the increase in the desire to increase the efficiency output of early steam engines. The process is an artificial physical manipulation responsible for a system definition and its surrounding. It is also defined in terms of a cyclic process that a system can undergo. Regoczei (2007) conceptualizes the learning environment by defining and demonstrating the importance of mental models. In order to create a learning environment, a person is eligible to the creation of mental models that will be effective in generating a learning atmosphere. Regoczei (2007) defines mental models as conceptual frameworks that are made of generalizations and assumptions that facilitate a better understanding of the world hence creating the basis for action in it. He suggests that system thinking is a cognitive human activity. Mental models are psychological representations of real or imaginary situations that can happen to a person (Regoczei, 2007). Thermodynamics are categorized as mental models. Thermodynamics have the same characteristics as mental models. These characteristics include; the first characteristic states that mental models are inclusive of what a person thinks are the truth, and not what may be the truth (Regoczei, 2007). The second characteristic is that they allow a person make predictions of his or her actions. The third characteristic states that mental models are often simple as compared to the things they stand for. They are only made up of enough information that allows accurate forecast (Regoczei, 2007). When documenting mental models of other people, current images, vocabulary, and assumptions should make up a documentation forum. The above ways will make it possible to create a target mental model that we want other people to have. There are several ways to represent mental models such as images, scripts, sets of related mental models, controlled vocabulary, and sets of assumptions (Regoczei, 2007). Reference John, F. S. (1984). Conceptual Structures: Information Processing in Mind and Machine. Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-14472-7 Hall, S. (2012). This means this and this means that: a users guide to semiotics, 2ND edition. Principles of semiotic analysis, Toronto: UTP. Regoczei, H. (2007). The Practice of System and Network Administration. 2nd Edition, Addison- Wesley. Read More