# An Overview of the Operating Environment

Figure 1-1 provides an overview of the software's three-layer operating environment.

Figure 1-1 An Overview of the Operating Environment

As the Figure indicates, the software has three distinct layers: The Interface Layer, The Map/Model Layer, and The Equations Layer.

The software opens on the Map/Model layer. This layer is where you will lay out your thinking in the form of a map. On this layer, you will transform maps into models that can be simulated on the computer. The Map/Model layer thus is the "engine room" for the models you create.

Above the Map/Model layer, you'll find the Interface layer. As the name suggests, the Interface layer provides you with the tools needed for engaging end-user interfaces to your models. You'll use these Interface layer tools to create, for example, flight simulator cockpits in which users can interact with the model as the simulation progresses. The Interface layer makes it possible for you to transform a model into a compelling environment for learning.

Finally, below the Map/Model layer you'll find the Equations layer. This layer gives you a list of all the equations that make up your model. Although you will seldom (if ever) need to visit the Equations layer, it's always good to know that the equations are accessible to you.

For you as model builder, the multi-layer design makes it significantly easier for you to manage visual and conceptual complexity. You've got a place for the model structure. You've got a home for an equations list. And finally, you have a locus for input/output interactions with the model.

For your clients and colleagues, the benefits of the multi-layer approach are even more palpable. Separate layers make it possible to unravel the intricacies of you model in "mind-size bites." Potential for learning is maximized. Potential for confusion is minimized. The result: models with impact!