
Summary
Computational modelling uses mathematics and logics to represent and reason about systems. Traditionally, these have been systems we want to design and build. But I am more interested in systems that are in use – but we don’t understand, or at least didn’t anticipate, some of their behaviours. With the aid of three examples: a radiotherapy machine, a mixed-reality game, and a mobile phone app, I will illustrate how models can help us understand what has gone wrong, and why. And of course, I hope to convince you that that modelling is interesting and useful.