Function Follows Form: Using the Aesthetic Association Principle to Enhance Haptic Interface Design.

Stefan Josef Breitschaft,Claus-Christian Carbon

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.646986

Stefan Josef Breitschaft, Claus-Christian Carbon

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.646986

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Abstract

Novel tangible user interface technologies facilitate current trends toward seamless user interfaces. They enable the design of yet unseen interfaces and thus the creation of a new kind of haptic language. In order to use the benefits of a touch-and-feel design for a positive user experience, carefully designed haptic feedback plays an important role by providing aesthetically pleasing and sustainable product features. Haptic feedback may exceed mere acquiring of buttons and input-confirmation but enable orientation and even identification of functionality governed by the haptic impression. We employed the aesthetic association principle as a deeply grounded psychological mechanism that assists effective linkage between haptic form factors and associated functional attributes. In order to illustrate this powerful principle, we analyzed the specific associations between certain main haptic surface qualities and associated functional aspects. In a series of three subsequent studies (Pre-Study 1: perception, Pre-Study 2: similarity, and Main Study: association), we explored paradigmatic associations of that kind to develop guidelines which forms are distinct to be used in interfaces. We show how forms are implicitly categorized into functional qualities (on/off, more-less, selection), using a multidimensional scaling procedure and explore explicit form-functionality associations, using a think-aloud method in the context of an automotive interface. For a series of forms, we revealed clear associative relations to specific functions. We will discuss the general value and opportunities of an association-based approach to user experience in order to create intuitive user interfaces. We will also develop ideas for specific areas of applications.

Highlights

THE PHYSICAL EMPIRE FIGHTS BACKTechnological advancements in the area of tangible user interface technologies and an increasing desire for dynamic and programmable interfaces capable of dealing with an ever-growing number of functionalities led to the ongoing digitalization of user interfaces—among others in the automotive industry
We show how forms are implicitly categorized into functional qualities, using a multidimensional scaling procedure and explore explicit form-functionality associations, using a think-aloud method in the context of an automotive interface
The multidimensional scaling procedure (MDS) allows to explore implicit similarity structures of different objects and visualize their reciprocal relationship based on pairwisesimilarity measures (Jaworska and Chupetlovska-Anastasova, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

Technological advancements in the area of tangible user interface technologies and an increasing desire for dynamic and programmable interfaces capable of dealing with an ever-growing number of functionalities led to the ongoing digitalization of user interfaces—among others in the automotive industry This digitalization of user interfaces is characterized by a fusion of an interactive and decorative surface, leading to the reduction and extinction of dedicated analog interfaces to create seamless and harmonic interfaces. We miss the touch-and-feel aspects we need to create a great user experience and to ensure an efficient and low-error use even in eyes-free operation This becomes imminent in safetyrelevant contexts, such as automotive, in which haptic feedback in touchscreen interfaces could massively improve distraction and eyes-free operation. The title of a recent Fjord’s (a major design consultancy) campaign explains the comeback of the sense of touch in design very well: “Physical Fights Back” (Fjord., 2020)

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