The User Model as a Discipline For Interface Design

Matt Belge, Vision and Logic
Kate Ehrlich, Lotus Development Corp.

Sunday, April 14

This workshop is for UI design practitioners who create user models. We define user model to mean the set of concepts and metaphors devised by the user interface designer to help the user understand the system. For example, in creating the user model for a computer desktop, interface designers might articulate the concepts of desktop, folder, document, and waste basket.

We seek to bring together designers to explore the techniques used to create user models. We are particularly seeking practitioners who have created some form of user model as an explicit step in the design process. Theoreticians who work on formal methods (such as GOMS) are also welcome. The goal of the workshop is to help UI designer-practitioners exchange knowledge regarding the best practices to ensure high quality user models.

Participants must submit a two- to four-page position paper describing the following:

Describe the major aspects of a user model you helped create or modify.
What activities did you undertake before creating the user model?
What techniques did you use to define the user model?
How did you relate the on screen design to the user model?
What problems did you encounter?
What else should we know about this work?
Brief description of your professional background

Position papers will be chosen based on the relevance of the experience to the topic and the quality of the work. Prior to the workshop, participants will be asked to engage in an E-mail discussion of issues raised in the position papers.

This one-day workshop is limited to 20 participants.

Contact

Matt Belge
Vision and Logic 
67 Pratts Mill Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776 USA
E-mail: mbelge@world.std.com
Tel: +1 508-443-2446
Fax: +1 508-440-9020

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