Models are ideas about the world - how it might be organized and how it might work. Models describe relationships: parts that make up wholes; structures that bind them; and how parts behave in relation to one another. For example, the sun rises in the east, moves across the sky, and sets in the west. Or the earth orbits the sun.
Models support communication and learning. Models help bridge the gap between observing and making, between research communities and design communities. Models are especially important in interaction and service design.
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Many Thanks, An important and timely contribution about the values and possible contribution of models in general communication, integrating sign systems and cultural expressions for a wide range of applications, not just design, education, policy,…
I remember times in the late 80ies when the key statement was “Mental models do not seem to exist”. The article is definitely a breakthrough and milestone.
My work is on models and mental models or creativity and cognitive spaces. You might like these “new terms” in the International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics: http://benking.de/systems/encyclopedia/newterms mybe start with cognitive spaces and cognitive panorama.
But maybe I maybe also point out that in the 60ies – 70ies not only a General Systems Theory (GST), but also a General Model Theory (GMT) was presented.
GMT at UNESCO, Paris in 1972, see: http://www.quergeist.net/Stachowiak/ and more on Herbert Stachowiak below.
you might find this FIS discussion from 2003 helpful:
General Theories and Pragmatics Re: [Fis] Sustainable use of resources
From: heiner benking Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 00:03:19 +0100 (MET)
I like your playing with meanings, models, meatphors and meaning, even when the topic is a survival question which concerns me much since soo long.. – looking into cultures and environments…
My question: Did any one of you follow General Systems Theory (GST) (Bertalanffhttp://www.dubberly.com/articles/models-of-models.htmly) 1968 versus General Model Theory (GMT) 1972.
Herbert Stachowiak wrote in the ‘72 for UNESCO on Scientific THOUGHT (with Beer, Piaget,….) and 1986-96 the 5 volumes on Neo-Pragmatism. http://fis.icts.sbg.ac.at/c_10_s_42_list_mailings_page_0643.html
Stachowiak started his work on Planning, Cybernetics, Models, later Systematic Neopragmatism in 1965 http://www.quergeist.net/Stachowiak/ His work was recently invited to the Germany National Library.
Maybe you also enjoy: Using Maps and Models, SuperSigns and SuperStructures http://benking.de/systems/codata/CODATA-MIST2005.htm http://benking.de/systems/codata/CODATA-MIST2005-ppt-s_files/v3_document.htm
I very mcuh liked your focus of Oversimplifications - this with the issue of fidelity and trust is my main concern in learning and ploicy making. Maybe you like:
http://www.ceptualinstitute.com/genre/benking/overview.htm
http://benking.de/culture/Culture-of-Peace-IIAS-1997.htm
The above links you might find of interest as I see in your article a lot of resonnace to my work which shifted from planning, design, visualisation, environment, policy/governance, more and more the last nearly 20 years to education. I will use your crisp and terse summing up of your article in my presentations around EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILTIY and GLOBAL POLICY MAKING (with propper references of course). Thank you very much as aliens have not such a greast command of the English language as can be found in your article ! I feel very good having found a kindred spirit in the believe in the potential of using not only systems but also models in a much broader sense and wider fields of application.
Heiner Benking http://www.quergeist.info