An empirical comparison of the dynamic modeling in OML and UML

This paper presents an empirical research for evaluating the semantic comprehension of two standard languages, UML (Unified Modeling Language) versus OML (OPEN Modeling Language), from the perspective of the dynamic modeling. We carried out two controlled experiments using a 2 x 2 crossover design, where the metrics Studied were the comprehension time and the total score. We examined the OML and UML interaction diagrams and the statecharts of each language corresponding to the design of a real-time embedded system. The results obtained reveal that the specification of the dynamic behavior using OML is faster to comprehend and easier to interpret than using the UML language, regardless of the dynamic diagram type. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.