---
title: "mental-models"
aliases: Mental Models
tags: 
- info203
---

- mental models are created by experience, metaphors, and analogical reasoning
- these models are developed further through interaction with the system
- designers (wrongly) often expect the users model to be the same as theirs

A mental model mistach leads to:
- slow performance
- errors
- frustration

[participant-observation](notes/participant-observation.md) appretiships (and other techniques such as [evaluating-designs](notes/evaluating-designs.md)) can uncover these mismatches. 

## Slips vs mistakes

| Slip       | Mistake                           |
|:-----------|:----------------------------------|
| accidental | on purpose (due to model mistach) |


## How to create good mental models
- [Direct Manipulation](notes/direct-manipulation-video.md)
	- leveraging real world metphors
	- this gives is a good idea of how each object works and how to control it