The document discusses conceptual models for digital machines. It explains that a conceptual model defines the system's purpose by describing the problem it solves and who it solves it for. A conceptual model can be determined through being given it, figuring it out through user research, or being given an incorrect one requiring user research. Conceptual models are typically communicated through prose descriptions or concept maps. They identify the concepts, users, and goals of an application and how concepts relate without describing implementation or interfaces. Keeping a conceptual model simple and focused on utility while staying conceptual is challenging.

1. Conceptual Model
What is this all about, anyway?
№ 3, Design of Digital Machines
Tim Sheiner
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2. The four sub models of the machine
object model
Input Controller
Output
View Model
Digital Machine
interaction model data model
conceptual model
The conceptual model corresponds most closely to entire digital machine.
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3. What does this thing do?
The concept model defines the system purpose
๏ what problem it solves (the need),
๏ for whom it solves the problem (the persona).
You learn the concept model one of 3 ways
1. It is given to you;
2. You need to figure it out;
3. It is given to you, but incorrectly, see case 2.
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4. Solution for case 2:
Do user research
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5. Communicating the Concept Model
Two standard formats
1. Prose description
2. Concept Map
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6. Example: Prose Description
“A concept model is a high level description of an
application.
๏ it enumerates all concepts in the application that a user
can encounter
๏ describes how those concepts relate to each other
๏ and explains how those concepts fit into task that users
perform with the application”
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7. Example: Prose Description
“A concept model is a high level description of an
application.
๏ it enumerates all concepts in the application that a user
can encounter
๏ describes how those concepts relate to each other
๏ and explains how those concepts fit into task that users
perform with the application”
Johnson & Henderson, Conceptual Models, 2012
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8. Example: Concept Map
a
Concept
Model concepts users
identifies that matter to
organized who need who want to
into achieve
particular
application
workflows
goals
tool for
permit achieving
particular
tasks
based on Johnson & Henderson, 2012
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9. Concept Modeling Challenges
๏ Keeping it simple and focused
๏ Keeping it conceptual
➡ does not describe implementation
➡ does not describe user interface
➡ does not describe use cases
➡ does describe utility
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10. fin
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