User’s Task Model vs. Engineer’s Model

• User’s task model

A representation of the user’s conceptual model

• Main Goal: Make the Engineer’s model invisible to the user.

• Engineer’s model

Underlying implementation

Slide Comments:

A system is designed and implemented at different levels. The Engineer’s Model refers to the underlying implementation of a system it includes database and programming structure. The User’s Task model refers to the model of work that the system imposes on the user

There are plenty of example where the Engineer’s Model becomes apparent to the user (See next slide).

Reference:

“Design Models for Computer-Human Interfaces” by Gentner & Grudin