Models, Metaphor, Paradigms

Dr. Dania Bilal

IS 588

Spring 2008

Understanding and conceptualizing interaction

• Good interaction is based on a clear understanding of – What– Why– How

• Benefits– Time and money saving

Problem space

• Understanding nature of problem space to be designed– Conceptualize what, why, and how you will

create the space• Think about how the design will support users

Understanding problem space

• Clarify usability and user experience goals to solve problem space– Make assumptions and claims

Class Activity• Scenario: There is a need to develop an open source

browser. Think through why such a tool will be useful?• What are your assumptions? (think of what’s wrong with

existing browser and how creating an opn source one will solve the problems)

• Highlight problematic concerns to identify ideas to be reworked with the new browser

Conceptual model

• Is a description of the proposed design

• Made

• Integrated ideas and concepts about– What should system do? – How should system operate/behave?– How should system look like?– Can system be understood by intended

users?

Developing conceptual models

• Envision proposed system based on user needs identified – Think: what will users be doing?

• Decide on modes of interaction– Identify nature of user activities to support – Identify style of interaction to incorporate in

proposed system

Developing conceptual models

• Think of concrete solutions– Flesh-out:

• explore possible design solutions

– Evaluate good and bad about each solution– Adopt best solution– Always have alternative solution

Types of conceptual models

I. Models based on activities

II. Models based on objects

Models based on activities

• Instructing

• Conversing

• Manipulating and navigating

• Exploring and browsing

Models based on objects

• Focus on way an object is used in a particular context

• Often based on an analogy or physical objects in the real-world– Students to give examples????

Interface metaphors

• Based on conceptual models

• Intend to explain something unfamiliar/hard to understand by combining familiar knowledge that is easy to understand

Class activity: Use a browser and identify the functions employed that are based on familiar knowledge.

Interaction paradigms

We will cover this topic next week along with Understanding Users