Lesson 1

This module introduces the Web Interaction Model, which is a robust tool for conceptualizing how the full range of components work together on the Web. This includes

1. the design elements,
2. including how a website creates a particular look and feel,
3. to the more technical elements, such as software and hardware considerations.

There are many different ways to understand how the Web works and since there is great variety in the complexity of technologies, various models have been developed as tools for understanding and discussing the Web.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe how Web technologies have changed the ways people use and obtain information
2. Describe the components that make up the various Web models
3. Explain the function of the Web Interaction Model
4. Describe how the Web Interaction Model relates to other models

In the next lesson, you will learn why models are necessary and gain an overview of how the Internet has affected the way we use information.

An interaction model is a design model that binds an application together in a way that supports the conceptual models of its target users. It is the glue that holds an application together and defines how all of the objects and actions that are part of an application interrelate, in ways that mirror and support real-life user interactions. It ensures that users always stay oriented and understand how to navigate to find information or perform tasks and provides a common vision for an application. It enables designers, developers, and stakeholders to understand and explain how users move from objects to actions within a system. Once you understand the interaction model and see the pattern, everything makes sense. Defining the right interaction model is a foundational requirement for any digital system and contributes to a cohesive, overall UX architecture.