Question

In what scenarios are simplified models valuable in design?

Simplified models are valuable in design scenarios where the complexity of the real system is too high to be fully understood or is unnecessary for the task at hand. They are useful in initial stages of design to understand the basic functionality and behavior of the system. They can also be used for communication purposes, to explain the system to non-experts. However, it's important to remember that simplified models are based on certain assumptions and they hold true only as long as these assumptions are valid.

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When something goes wrong, like when information stored on the cloud goes missing, the conceptual model must offer a solution or it is limited in its quality. Files might appear accessible to users but be untouchable. "Simplified models are valuable only as long as the assumptions that support them hold true."

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