Replace the Invert Circles in Compound Arithmetic Nodes

[Manzolli]

The tiny circles that represents inversion of the operation in the compound arithmetic node are hard to see (http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Enlarge-the-Invert-Circles/idi-p/1023748#A3241). The proposal is to get rid of the circles and invert the central part of the respectives connectors:

The difference between the suggestions is that in the second the corners were rounded to reduce the impact a little. I liked the first most.

[johnsold]

While your suggestion has greater visual impact, the current implementation follows standard logic symbol practice.  Thus the circles mean something to those of us with electronics engineering or logic circuit design backgrounds.

If readability is a major issue, making the circles slightly larger might be a better approach.

Lynn 

[Manzolli]

johnsold --> "Thus the circles mean something to those of us with electronics engineering or logic circuit design backgrounds."

Many people are not familiarized with the electronic engineering notation, as "G" become a wide spread (generic) application language. Even for the ones that are familiarized with it, the circles are difficult to see. The idea is to avoid using any space outside the control and make the inversion more visible.

For me enlarging the circle, presented at http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Enlarge-the-Invert-Circles/idi-p/1023748#A3241, is not good enough.

One good way to go is put as an alternative, than you use the one you like the most.

[Jim_Kring]

How about doing both? Use color to distinguish between regular and negated terminals AND keep the inversion dots.

For example, how about something like this (below)?

Message Edited by Jim Kring on 01-14-2010 09:38 AM

[Darin.K]

Two reasons why I suggested keeping and enlarging the circles.  First one is obvious, it is standard, and many people are instantly familiar with it.  Next you may want to spell out AND/OR instead of using the standard symbol.  Second reason, as I mentioned, is that I want to extend this idea to as many boolean inputs and outputs as possible.  It is easy to see how adding a circle (hopefully a bit larger) to the terminal works in all cases.  Other than the compound arithemetic node, few boolean functions lend themselves to internal color changes or black boxes.

Overall, my feeling is that there are different levels of visibility for BD objects.  Right now I believe the inversion circles are a little bit subtle.  I would like them to be more noticable, ie. easily spotted when looking at the node.  This suggestion aims to make them 'eye-catching', and succeeds, perhaps a bit too well for my taste.

[altenbach]

 > For example, how about something like this (below)?

A contrasting color as additional visual cue is not a bad idea, but maybe not red (or reddish pink). Red on the diagram seems to be a bit controversial. 😉

Somehow, we could shorten or almost eliminate the vertical row of squares on the left, because all input information is in the presence/absence of the little circle. They squares are currently empty and don't carry much information except indicate the presence of terminals.

[jlokanis]

As someone with a EE background, I agree that the circles are the best choice for representing inversion on input.  I understand how some people without a technical background would not know this, but it is just something you will have to learn when working with logic symbols on diagrams.

That being said, I do agree that they are a bit small and could be made larger.

In my case, the use of the ^ V and V are less intuitive since we learned different symbols for these in my logic design courses.  In this case I would prefer to give back some BD real estate and have them spell out the function or have the standard graphical symbol displayed in the compound symbol.  But, since this is the way it is, I will just have to memorize this nomenclature, just like the non-EEs have to remember what the circle means...

[muks]

Jim kring's idea to me seems the best option.

[Manzolli]

Jim's idea is pretty nice to reduce the impact of black. What we need is something more visible than just the circles and not so strong as black or with the "alert" look of red, like altenbach said. Maybe using a different color, like brown (dark yellow). Here are some suggestions:

[Spectre_Dave]

I also think we need to keep the circles but I would enlarge them and use gray for the negated terminals. I would avoid any color that resembles a wire color

[Jim_Kring]

I'm friendly to other colors.  I agree that red usually implies a warning.  I only used red because it would catch everyone eye, here 🙂