Individual skill
mental-model-system-vs-interaction
Use this skill when distinguishing the two mental-model types — system models (how the user thinks the system works) and interaction models (how the user thinks they should use it). Trigger when designing onboarding (which model to teach), reviewing user confusion (which model is wrong), or building documentation (which model to explain). Sub-aspect of `mental-model`; read that first.
plugins/HDeibler/universal-design-principles/plugins/cognition-and-learnability-principles/skills/mental-model-system-vs-interaction/SKILL.md
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SKILL.mdcore · 6,492 bytesreferences/two-models-research.mddoc · 1,609 bytes
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# System models vs. interaction models
The book's distinction matters in practice because the two model types are formed differently and need different design responses.
## System models
How the user thinks the system works internally. Components, mechanisms, causal logic.
Examples:
- "The cloud" stores my files; they're somewhere on the internet.
- "The recommendation algorithm" looks at what I clicked.
- "Two-factor authentication" sends a code to verify it's me.
