Design languages,notation systems,and instructional technology: A case study

Notational systems, used in mature fields of study, are closely related to design languages. The future of a technological field depends on the ability to communicate ideas and changes with others in the field. Instructional technology is one field that can benefit from a notation system enabling designers to duplicate, execute, and communicate their ideas. In this paper, we look at several mature fields, including chemistry, musicology, and choreography, to discover elements where a mature design language and notation system have developed. We illustrate a number of dimensions that can help designers form their design languages and select the characteristics of their notation systems.