Ability Model

A representation of a user that focuses on what they can do rather than demographic characteristics or disability categories. Unlike traditional user models that capture preferences, background, or impairment labels, ability models document the specific abilities a user has for completing particular tasks in particular contexts. Ability models must account for dynamics (abilities change over time), fidelity levels (abilities can be described broadly or narrowly), and task-context dependency (an ability only exists relative to what needs to be done and where).