The Interaction Model

Interaction Model
How do I use this thing?
№ 4, Design of Digital Machines
Tim Sheiner

0.5beta 2013 This work by Tim Sheiner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States.

The four sub models of the machine

object model

Input Controller

Output

View Model

Digital Machine

interaction model data model
conceptual model

The interaction model corresponds most closely to the view.

0.5beta 2013 This work by Tim Sheiner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States. 2

First, a definition:


By a state of a system is meant any
well-defined condition or property
that can be recognized if it occurs
again. Every system will naturally
have many possible states.

Ashby, An Introduction to Cybernetics, 1956


How do I make a change?
The interaction model defines how to manipulate system
state
๏ how do I interact with the system?
๏ what are the workflows?
๏ how can I influence outcome | output ?


The union of two perspectives
Human Machine

Solution Application

Process Workflow
interaction
model
Steps Tasks

Actions Events


In a nutshell...

action

interaction model

feedback


The interaction model is
organized around workflows.


Workflows are sequences of steps

1 2 3


Steps have a duality

transformation transformation
1 transition
2 transition
3
action

feedback


Steps have a duality

transformation transformation
1 transition
2 transition
3
action
steps have a duality:
feedback
➡ action/feedback
➡ transformation/transition
➡ input/output
➡ intent/outcome


Workflows branch

Standard Case

1 2 or 3 4

3’
Error Case


Workflows connect
Workflow A

1 2 or 3 4

3’

Output
Input

1 2 3

Workflow B

What defines a workflow?

Desire for change

Change complete.



A Narrative

Beginning Middle End



A Transformation

Object Workflow Object’


Workflows transform objects.


A transformation is a change in state

e.g. object appearance



2

1

3

e.g. object behavior



e.g. object location



$ $

Account 1 Account 2 Account 1 Account 2

e.g. object value


The transformation is the change.
The transition is the feedback.


Archetypal Workflows
๏ authentication
๏ content creation
๏ content management
๏ sharing
๏ permission management
๏ configuration management


Authentication
Providing credentials in order to access content or
functionality


Content Creation
Adding new information


Content Management
Organizing information


Sharing
Making content or resources available to others


Permission Management
Controlling access to content or resources


Configuration Management
Setting behaviors or preferences


Communicating the Interaction Model
Several standard forms
๏ flow diagram
๏ written scenario
๏ storyboards
๏ wireframes
๏ prototypes


Interaction Modeling Challenges
๏ Including the error model
when things go wrong what happens?
๏ Imagining the permutations
why prototyping is lowers design risk
๏ Understanding when & where state changes
operating on the object or operating on a copy?


fin


The Interaction Model

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The Interaction Model