Example of Normal Model:

The thermostat for a central heating system.

There is i) a controllable (on/off) heat source, ii) a defined volume A which needs to be temperature
controlled, iii) B, a volume outside of this iv) a device allowing a user to specify the desired
temperature of volume A, and v) a user.
Assuming we are dealing only with heating, not cooling, the design model is simple - allow the user
to specify a desired temperature T. If the actual temperature is below T, then turn on the heat source,
and keep checking the temperature, and if or when T is reached, turn off the heat source. If the
actual temperature is above T, then keep the heat source inactive.

Exception to the Norman Model:

In the Norman model, the evaluation phase of the interaction cycle represents the system’s
communication with the user, who in our case is the autistic learner. The choice of appropriate
modes of communication will determine how well the learner understands the result of the
interaction with the system and if indeed the interaction has any educational value. This in turn may
affect the learner’s motivation to continue with a subsequent interaction. There is a need to consider
the choice of symbolic level of communication. In reference to helping children with autism to
learn, there are four different levels of symbolic communication as follows:
Spoken message
Spoken message together with the written message
Spoken message together with the relevant picture
Spoken message together with the relevant object
In a computer-based system, the first three levels are possible, and in sophisticated virtual reality
systems an attempt at the fourth level can be simulated. For commonly available educational
software, the symbolic levels will encompass the first three levels.
Level One: Spoken message
At this level there may be too much cognitive overload for the learner, as narration is temporal and
transient and cannot be recalled effortlessly, unless the system provides a mechanism for recall and
replay. The learner with autism generally has a preference for less narrative and more visual
support.
Level Two: Spoken message with written message
At this level, there is a risk that the presence of the written message may not aid understanding, in
the case where the user is not a competent reader. Also since two input channels, visual and
auditory, are being addressed there may be an information processing overload in the learner’s
working memory.
Level Three: Spoken message with relevant picture
This level of symbolic communication is one that appears to suit the learner with autism, as the use
of a visual image provides a more concrete means of communication. This form of ‘augmentative
communication’ is well suited to the use of multimedia in a computer-supported learning
environment.
Example of Abowd and Beale Model:

We will see an example of Abowd and Beale Model in Using a Calculator.

User is a human, input is through Keypad, Output is through screen of the calculator.
The user will type in decimal number system. The calculator understands in Binary
number system. Hence the languages of the system and the user are different. All the
calculations will be processed in the core of the calculator. Through the screen the
output in decimal number system converted from binary result in the system.
Here the user will type in the required expression in decimal number system. For
example to add 2 and 3 user will enter 2 + 3by keypad. The result will be displayed in
decimal number system i.e. 5 on the screen.

Exception to Abowd and Beale Model:

Now we will see the case i.e an example where Abowd and Beale Interaction Model
fails. As we have discussed earlier the system does the processing in its own language
on basis of input form the user only.

Consider of a system developed for recognition of indian sign language(a continous

sign language),which recognizes a whole sentence comprising of multiple
gestures.Now how it will know when gestures changes this is not guranteed by the
system itself even though it has input as a gesture of whole sentence but yet it will not
be justified by Abowd and Beale Model.Hence the model fails in this example.We
need a higher and improved model for Interaction with this kind of system.