Visual Object Modelling

The major challenge for current software-engineering is to provide methodologies and tools for automated software construction. This paper presents a methodology for visual modelling, based upon the object-oriented approach. The basic idea is to identify the structure and behaviour of complex systems as a hierarchy of abstractions and views. From a certain point of view reality can be seen as a system of flows. In this context it is useful to distinguish between three kinds of objects. Firstly, objects representing the structure of the real world (Base Objects). Secondly, objects reflecting the flow of control (Control objects). Thirdly, objects providing a means of communication between the model and external sources of information, like humans, machines etc. This paper describes a visual language for modelling reality and mapping it onto these three kinds of objects.