Familiarity: Google Documents Meets Microsoft Word

An important element when designing softwear is making sure the design matches the mental model already posesed by the user. In terms of open access software, this may include followin a design that already exists, keeping the design familiar. In the case of Google Documents familiarity comes from matching symbols to those we are already familiar with from Microsoft Word.

We have developed a mental model for the select text colour function.

This is just one of example of the consistencies between the two products. Familiarity is only one part of matching mental models. The shopping cart function in commerce type websites is also building on the real world idea of shopping. The ability to remove things from you cart at various stages also matches what we'd expect from real life.