Theories, Methods, and Tools for the Design of User-Centered Computer Systems
Abstract
There are many aspects to the term user-centered. For this research, we have concentrated on the issue of information management. Our theoretical starting point was to identify the distinction between two levels of mental representations that users have of the tasks they want to perform on computer systems. In our proposal to ARI, we planned to distinguish between a situation model and a system model. The situation model is a representation of the task the user wants to perform in terms of the specific task domain. It is subjective and varies somewhat among individuals, but our assumption has been that it is well specified. In order to do anything, however, the user's situation model must be transformed into a system model, which is normative and system specific. This distinction has been the driving idea behind the theorizing and system building in this project. Our question has been, how, for a variety of tasks in which information management plays a central role, this transformation is achieved, and what system support can be provided for it. (Author) (kr)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA225700
Entities
People
- Gerhard Fischer
- Walter Kintsch
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder