Studio Activity/Assignment Option #1:
Conceptual Models

Overview and Learning Objectives

In this studio activity, you will explore three different software systems, with the purpose of identifying and evaluating their conceptual models. The specific learning objectives of this studio activity are:

• to practice explicating the conceptual models underlying both physical and computer-based artifacts; and
• to consider the ways in which the two are similar and different.

Note: At least one of the members of your group needs to have a laptop computer with a variety of software installed. Internet access is desirable, but is not necessary.

Studio Activity Tasks

Choose three different software applications that are available on the laptop computer you are working with. If your laptop has internet access, then one of those applications may be a non-trivial website. For each application, discuss and develop group answers for each of the following questions:

1. What is the name of the application? If it is a website, then specify its URL.

2. What is the conceptual model that underlies the application's design?

3. What is the main kind of activity and/or object on which the conceptual model is based?

4. What metaphors, if any, have been used in the design of the application?

5. What is the interface paradigm?

6. If the application's conceptual model is based on a physical object, compare and contrast the application from the physical object on which it is based. In particular, what new functionality has been provided? Does that functionality fit in well with the metaphor provided by the physical object.

7. In your opinion, does the application's conceptual model succeed? Why or why not?

8. Choose a couple of tasks that can be done within the application, and have a group member talk out loud as he or she steps through Norman's seven stages of action model to perform the task. Fill in the following table:

Were there any gulfs of evaluation or gulfs of execution? Describe.

Assignment Option #1

Note: As stated in the course syllabus, you are required to hand in at least three assignment options, one from each of the three major sections of the course (Background and Theory, Designing Interactive Systems, Evaluating Interactive Systems). In other words you need to hand in

1. assignment option #1, 2, 3, or 4;
2. assignment option #5, 6, or 7; and
3. assignment option #8.

Assignment Tasks

1. Choose three additional artifacts that your group did not consider within the studio activity. Of these three, one must be a standalone software application, one must be an electronic device (a household appliance, programmable thermostat, programmable VCR or DVR, cell phone, calculator, stereo system, MP3 player, or GPS system), and one must be a non-trivial commerce website.
2. For each artifact, develop answers to the eight questions listed under the "Studio Activity Tasks" section above. For question eight, clearly define two specific tasks to be performed with each device. Then observe a friend (not from this class) as he or she walks through the seven stages of action model for each of those tasks. As you observe your friend, complete the above table. In your write-up, be sure to include a completed table for each task, and be sure to discuss any gulfs of evaluation or execution that arose, and why you think they arose. If none arose, then speculate why that was the case.

Additional Research Task for Graduate Students

Read the "Mental Models" reading available off of the main page of the course WebCT site. This is a journal article that provides an overview of mental models for HCI researchers and practitioners. Prepare a two page (double-spaced, 1" margins) critical review of the article. Your critical review should not only identify the key points of the material, but also analyze and critique its underlying perspective. The following list of questions provides a useful starting point for your critical review:

• Who are the authors? What is their academic history? From what intellectual perspective are they coming? What are their biases?
• What are the key points of the article?
• Are there any gaps in logic or presentation? How could the presentation or argument of the article be improved?
• How does the article compare, and fit in, to others you've read on this topic (if any)?
• What do you like about the article? What do you not like? Why?

Deliverables and Grading

By the deadline, hand in a hardcopy written report that addresses the assignment tasks described above. Your report must have a title page with "Assignment Option #1" displayed prominently in bold at the center of the page; your name, the name of this course, and the date should appear in smaller type below the title.

We will use this assessment form to evaluate your work. The critical review required of graduate students will be evaluated according to this assessment form. Be sure you that carefully read these forms ahead of time, so that you can take the assessment framework into account as you write your report.