An Investigation into the Use of Metaphor in the rube TM Paradigm

Fig. 2.

John Hopkins, a metaphor-based 3D representation of a computer operating system task scheduler simulation during execution.

© John F. Hopkins

Several historical trends in computer programming have had the effect of bringing computers and programmers closer together in a humanistic sense. In a similar vein, the new rube^TM computer simulation and modeling (CS&M) methodology integrates user-specified metaphors in dynamic, 3D model visualizations. My thesis [1] briefly examines philosophical, psychological, aesthetic and design-based motivations for including metaphor in rube modeling processes.

In my thesis, the practical feasibility of incorporating customized metaphors in rube models is demonstrated through the step-by-step development of two example models according to the rube modeling steps. These example models are simplified, hypothetical computer operating system task schedulers that are based on a queuing network (Fig. 2). Agent-based, architectural, business-workflow and other metaphors are integrated into the visualizations of the example models to create works of art. The use of metaphor in 3D model visualization contributes to the aesthetic value of the models. During the development of the example models, several reusable generic model components are created that can be added to a publicly available CS&M toolkit. The fully developed example models may also be added to a model repository. Alternative possibilities concerning the use of metaphor in rube—in model design processes, for example, are explored, and suggestions are made for future modeling and empirical research associated with the use of metaphor in rube. Finally, the example models and the process by which they were created are assessed and future directions are suggested [2].