End-User Programming: Master Thesis: Programming Technoligies
Translated title
End-User Programmering: Master These: Programmerings Teknologier
Authors
Nguyen Dao, Ahn Tuan ; Bøg, Peter Heino
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2010
Submitted on
2010-06-14
Pages
100
Abstract
Projektets tema er slutbrugerprogrammering: hvordan man lærer mennesker, der aldrig har programmeret, at lave simple programmer og automatisere opgaver. Vi har udviklet en prototype som en udvidelse til et tegneprogram samt et domænespecifikt scriptsprog til netop dette miljø. Prototypen bygger på selvforklarende ("self-disclosing") principper i læring ved observation: værktøjet viser, hvad handlinger gør, og forklarer undervejs, så brugerne kan lære at skrive scripts, mens de arbejder i programmet. Derudover har vi udviklet en algoritme, der kan genkende gentagne (iterative) opgaver, så der kan genereres et script, der udfører dem automatisk. Prototype og scriptsprog er videreudviklinger af vores tidligere projekt, SW9. En brugervenlighedstest understøtter dele af vores hypoteser, fx at self-disclosing fungerer som læringskoncept. Effekten var dog tydeligere for slutbrugerprogrammører end for de helt nye slutbrugere, vi oprindeligt sigtede mod. Samlet set var projektet og testen en succes og gav flere interessante indsigter i feltet slutbrugerprogrammering.
This project examines end-user programming: how to teach people who have never coded to create simple programs and automate tasks. We built a prototype as an add-on to a drawing application along with a domain-specific scripting language tailored to that environment. The prototype applies self-disclosing principles within Learning by Observation: the tool shows what actions do and explains them as users work, helping them learn to write scripts while using the app. We also developed an algorithm that recognizes iterative (repetitive) tasks so a script can be generated to complete them automatically. The prototype and scripting language extend our previous project, SW9. A usability test provided evidence for parts of our hypotheses, such as self-disclosing working as a learning concept. However, this was clearer for end-user programmers than for the complete novices we initially targeted. Overall, the project and testing were successful and yielded several interesting insights into end-user programming.
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