What is the term that specifically describes laying out an object or representation of an object such that the interface reflects the spatial orientation of the object in real life?
For example, controls for a stovetop could be laid out horizontally, across the edge of the stove, as would be most convenient from a mechanical perspective. Four burners, with two on each side, controlled by four knobs, two on each side. Like so:
| * * |
| * * |
| O O O O |
However, there is no quick, visual, or spatial way to know which of the knobs controls which of the burners - is the back-right burner controlled by the right-most knob, or the second-most-right knob? The control panel could instead be designed with offset knobs (either up/down or forward/backward) to convey information innately, like so:
| * * |
| * * |
| O O |
| O O |
Similarly, information about a networking device (such as a router) could be conveyed via list - for example, which device is plugged into which port.
- Desktop
- Laptop
- Printer
- Empty
- XBox
- Etc..
Or the information could be displayed in a graphical representation, correlating to the layout of the device
Port 1 Port 3 Port 5
Desktop Printer XBox
Laptop Empty Etc...
Port 2 Port 4 Port...
What is the term to specifically reference this "laying out with innate information conveyed by spatial layout"?