Thesis mid-term
Thesis mid-term critique- thoughts and comments
October 19, 2015
A self exploration
October 26, 2015
Thesis Abstract:
Conceptual Model- a design methodology
The conceptual model and the mental model concepts have been around for a while, but they haven’t been fully developped in the design field. I want the methodology to be a helpful and efficient way to design better products.
A diagram from Don Norman
This diagram is from Don Norman. This is the article
Designers express their conceptual model through the product. Don Norman called it “system image” or we can call it controls, and users get their mental models through the controls or the “system image.”
An example – mental models of IKEA shopping
This is my own experience. Before I ever went to IKEA, I thought the process would simply mean finding a piece of furniture, paying for it and it will be delivered to my home, however after I bought the big sofa I gained a much more complex mental model. I learned their shopping process during the experience, breaking my previous mental model and developing a new mental model. I didn’t understand why the sofa can be related with two or more article numbers. The first time, we didn’t buy the cover for the sofa. The second time, we bought the sofa’s feet with wrong color.
People create mental models.
People interact with conceptual models
——-Susan Weinschenk
Theoretical environment of conceptual model – mapping statement
In my perspective, there are two other models that are closely related with conceptual model: mental model and implementation model. More about the theories.
Researching mental models and representing conceptual model
To develop the methodology, my professors suggested that I should find a specific area to research. I chose the air conditioner in car, because it is not too complex, such as the email system, or too simple, such as the alarm clock. Furthermore, the air conditioners in cars haven’t been fully “user-centered designed.”
I want to point out two main “mis-matches” between mental models and conceptual models:
- Ruiwen uses the “up arrow with the little man” button, which turns on the fans located near the front window, to defrost the window; however the button is intentionally supposed to adjust or customize the fans’ directions.
- Ming uses the “red temperature button” to turn on the air conditioner, and the “lower down fans’ speed button” to turn off the air conditioner. However, the manual says that to turn the air conditioner on/off, you should turn up/down the speed.
These two mis-matches are mis-matches between the user’s mental model and the designer’s conceptual model (designers’ or engineers’ intentions). They are links between controls (operations) and outcomes(goals).
Thoughts and Further Explorations
1. Further Interviews: explore different aspects of how people think about it, find out more details about their mental models.
2. Explore better ways to represent and compare the models.
3. Redesign the climate system in the car.
4. Look for designers who designed the climate system in the car, and see their responses on this new design methodology.
This diagram expresses the relationships between goals, tasks and operations. As I am not clear about how mental and conceptual models look like, I did this diagram to explore the models of these two models.
