Interactive visualization system for DES

Abstract

The Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a secret key encryption scheme adopted as standard in the USA in 1977. Most cryptographic courses and textbooks include DES, and its variations. Interaction and visualization are key factors supporting the learning process. We present a dynamic interactive educational system that visualizes DES, and its variations. The aim of the system is to facilitate teaching and learning DES, and its variants for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The system has been used in Ain Shams University - Faculty of Science, in the course "Cryptography". The analysis of the data emerging from the evaluation study of our system has shown that students found the system attractive and easy to use. On the whole, student interactions within the system helped them to become aware of DES, to conceptualize it, to overcome learning difficulties, and to correct themselves. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.