Toward Improving Binary Program Comprehension via Embodied Immersion: A Survey

TL;DR

This survey explores how virtual reality and cognitive models can enhance binary program comprehension by improving human-machine collaboration, memory, and information organization.

Contribution

It identifies key themes and affordances of VR to improve binary program comprehension through an interdisciplinary survey of cognitive and virtual reality research.

Findings

VR offers promising tools for immersive binary PC

Enhancing abductive reasoning improves comprehension

Supporting memory and information organization aids understanding

Abstract

Binary program comprehension is critical for many use cases but is difficult, suffering from compounded uncertainty and lack of full automation. We seek methods to improve the effectiveness of the human-machine joint cognitive system performing binary PC. We survey three research areas to perform an indirect cognitive task analysis: cognitive models of the PC process, related elements of cognitive theory, and applicable affordances of virtual reality. Based on common elements in these areas, we identify three overarching themes: enhancing abductive iteration, augmenting working memory, and supporting information organization. These themes spotlight several affordances of VR to exploit in future studies of immersive tools for binary PC.