Table 5.2 Summary of the representation of the elements of rule in Toontalk.
|
Elements of rule |
Representation in Toontalk |
|
Condition |
Trained robot, thought bubble and animated key sensor |
|
Action Movement |
• The robot • Horizontal position sensor co-ordinates • Units of distance as number • The movement of the co-ordinates • Bammer hammering |
|
Direction |
• Value of number to be added to position sensor • The function of addition • Movement of co-ordinates |
|
Object |
Visually depicted |
|
Spatial arrangement |
No systematic order of direction |
|
Genre of rule |
Animated cartoon |
|
Realism of rule |
Sensory |
|
Agency of user as |
User in system (i.e. robot as extension of user) |
Discussion of Program Mode and Rule
The modal affordances of image and movement in the representation of ‘condition’ in
pathways and Toontalk represent the user as an agent in the design of ‘rules’. In
Toontalk the user is represented as being within the system directly manipulating its
resources. The program configures the degree to which the entity ‘rule’ is the product
of human interaction (control) in specific ways that in turn position the user to the
understanding of ‘rule’ and the task of programming itself.
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