The Challenge of Combining Text and Graphics in Modeling Support Environments

Considerable effort is being expended worldwide towards the design and implementation of modeling support environments (MSEs). Efforts range from simulation to analytical support environments, and combinations of the two. Originally text-only, MSEs are increasingly designed to incorporate extensive graphics to facilitate user interactions with the software. The pursuit of MSEs is economically motivated and aims at increasing the productivity of modelers by enabling them to concentrate on modeling, without the distraction of undue programming detail. An MSE provides facilities and services that help create models, test and debug them, run computations and interpret the results. The increased modeler satisfaction is an important benefit of an MSE. We argue that market pressures resulting in shortened life cycles of computer-related products are putting a premium on good and efficient modeling during the design, development and operation of systems.