Comprehending and using information graphics, mathematical notations other representational forms

Humans use a broad range of representational forms including written language, pictures, notations, and diagrams. For decades, cognitive scientists and linguists have studied how humans communicate, reason and learn with them. Our research contributes to this body of knowledge by finding out more about the complex ways in which people, representations and contexts interact. We are interested in questions such as "What representations are most effective for a given task?" and "How can we help people choose good representations?" Our research has real-world relevance by informing the design of effective information displays and interactive systems.