User Models and Conceptual Design Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is a conceptual model?
A high-level description of what a system should do, behave, and look like, and how it should be understood by users.
What does conceptual design involve?
Structuring the information space, creating alternative solutions, and selecting a design concept based on mental models.
What tools are used in conceptual design?
Sketching, brainstorming, card sorting, semantic networks, flowcharts, scenarios, and storyboards.
What does a conceptual model exclude?
Low-level presentation details, implementation, menus, screens, and widgets.
What does a conceptual model include?
Metaphors, concepts, relationships, mappings, terminology, interaction types, and interface types.
What are metaphors in interface design?
Familiar concepts used to help users understand new systems, e.g., ‘desktop’, ‘folders’, ‘hamburger menu’.
What is mapping in conceptual design?
The relationship between system concepts and real-world user actions.
What is interaction type?
The way users interact with a system, e.g., instructing, conversing, manipulating, or exploring.
What is interface type?
The kind of interface used, such as GUI, speech, touch, or haptic.
What is brainstorming in conceptual design?
A team-based, creative idea generation session focusing on quantity and combining ideas without early criticism.
What is card sorting used for?
To discover how users group information, which helps structure menus and interface content.
What is a semantic network?
A web of related concepts that helps visualize and cluster problem space ideas.
What are flowcharts used for in design?
To map application structure and decision paths in a visual format.
What are scenarios in conceptual design?
Stories describing user tasks, goals, context, and activities.
What is a mental model?
A user’s internal representation of how a system works, formed through use, observation, or instruction.
Why are mental models important in usability engineering?
They personalize interaction, support reasoning, and influence how users handle errors.
How are mental models formed?
By self-exploration, watching others, or being taught.
What is the relationship between conceptual design and mental models?
Conceptual design helps create mental models that users can easily adopt.
What are Norman’s 7 stages of action?
1) Establish goal, 2) Intend to act, 3) Sequence actions, 4) Execute, 5) Perceive, 6) Interpret, 7) Evaluate.
How can design hinder mental model formation?
Through poor affordances, unclear mappings, and lack of feedback.
What is an example of using metaphor to help users?
Using a trash bin icon to imply deletion of files.
What methods are used to uncover user mental models?
User interviews, card sorting, concept mapping, walkthroughs, surveys, think-alouds, and eye-tracking.
What is the ‘ATM experiment’ insight?
Users often create imaginative explanations like ‘ATMs phone each other’, revealing gaps in their mental model.
How can we improve mental models?
Through clear communication, customization, feedback, and user education.
