Hci Aspects of a Framework for the Qualitative Representation of Space

Good user interfaces cannot be built on top of representations that ignore cogni-tive issues. This is particularly true for the representation of spatial knowledge, since space plays a preponderant role in human cognition. In this paper, we lay down the theoretical framework for a qualitative representation of space that takes cognitive aspects into consideration. A Knowledge Representation Model, characterized by making the role of the observer explicit, allows us to distinguish various modalities of representation (declarative vs. procedural, propositional vs. analogical, qualitative vs. quantitative), which are often at the heart of system (including GIS) design. We relate this approach to insights from metaphors, information theory, and semiotics.