SWE 205 In-Class Exercise
Gulfs of Execution and Evaluation

Group, Names:

Do this with your group.

  1. Consider an everyday kitchen object. (We'll do a particular type of can opener as class-wide warm-up.)

    What is the gulf of execution? Specifically, what is the goal, and what is the action needed to achieve that goal?

    What does the user have to learn to use the object? Specifically, what mental model does the user have to construct? How does the user learn this?

    What is the gulf of evaluation? Specifically, how does the object inform the user about progress towards their goal?

  2. Repeat the exercise with a fitness tracking device such as a FitBit, Whoop, or Apple Watch. Note that these devices are far more complex than a kitchen object; narrow your anlysis accordingly.