Design Of User Research Articles

PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS BY INVOLVING THE USER

The concept of the sustainable development which is defined in terms of the triple bottom line (economic, environmental and social) is becoming increasingly important. Until now, however, the social aspects have been under-investigated in comparison to environmental and economic aspects. From the product design point of view there is an emergency for development tools and methodologies that are directly linked with the social pillar of sustainability. The research has as main target to discover the future role of designers and engineers to address sustainability as well as emerging priorities from societal to environmental challenges. Furthermore, the present paper presents a model named sustainability push & pull, which is focused on the cultivation of sustainable behaviour to the citizens. The key issue is the users/citizens participation during the product design process, playing an active role to the product development. The whole work was based on a framework which was built according to the direct communication between users and designers. Focused on this target, two new design for X methodologies a) Design for Promoting Sustainable Principles through user education and b) Design for Green Usability developed following the guidelines of the proposed User Assessment Tool. The research garnered responses from 72 participants who answered detailed questions during the whole design process. Data analysis was accomplished according to the data analysis process proposed by Miles and Huberman. The positive view to the whole process made clear that the used methodologies are friendly and very interesting for both the users/citizens and designers. The results from both the questionnaires and interviews show that it is also very educating while the proportions of knowledge about sustainability were grown up.

Usability Design Support Uniformly Applicable through Upstream to Downstream Design Phases

Usability Design Support Uniformly Applicable through Upstream to Downstream Design Phases

Validation and reliability study of a ventilator usability assessment tool

Background: Usability is an index to assess a product from the viewpoint of users satisfaction, efficiency and productivity improvement. The main attributes of usability that are derived from the human factors are and used in usability design of the interfaces Include: compatibility, consistency, flexibility, minimal action, perceptual limitation, usefulness, learnability, ease of use, minimal memory load, user guidance, satisfaction and errors. The main aim of this study was to assess the usability of interface design tool for a ventilator utilized in the hospitals of Arak city, Iran; and study its validation and reliability. Methods and Materials After constructing the initial questionnaire from the standard sources, specific techniques to determine the validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used for the validity and reliability study. The study procedure was: determining the scope and dimensions of the questions, drafting questionnaire, assigning members of the expert panel, study, questionnaire data acquisition and analysis methods, determining acceptance criteria of the questions and the content validity and reliability index. Results Final tool was a 42-items questionnaire. The content validity index (CVI) of questionnaire was 0.86. The results showed that the total Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.89 as an acceptable value for the reliability of questionnaire. Conclusion After the final questionnaire design and the appropriate validity and reliability of it, adopting this tool to assess the usability of breathing apparatus (ventilator) is recommended. With usability assessment of such vital instruments, quality improvement, higher efficiency and productivity as well as errors reduction and good design user interface will be achieved. Keywords: usability, ventilator, evaluation questionnaire, content validity, reliability

Gender considerations in optimizing usability design of hand-tool by testing hand stress using sEMG signal analysis

To design comfortable and efficienthand tools, an objective measurement such as using surface electromyography (sEMG) is required, where the ergonomic design tries to find the most optimal and most fit design of hand-tool that doesn't cause stress on the hand muscles. The hand tool design optimization will be demonstrated in this study on designing shampoo bottles, where the design of bottle and its compatibility with the slippery watery area, in addition to the aesthetic considerations are important issues that must be taking by the manufacturers concerned with such industries. Six different designs of shampoo bottles, as outcomes of industrial design graduation project in the department of Industrial design at our university, were used in this study. The new designs, together with other traditionally bottle designs, were evaluated in simulated shampoo pouring task in the laboratory. Several important parameters extracted from the sEMG signal in both temporal domain and frequency domain provide useful information about the tested designs. Twenty healthy university students (10 males and 10 females; mean age of 21 ± 2 years) were included in this study. Each subject was asked to handle the bottle and simulate the shampoo pouring activity in gentle and delicate manner using the grasp pattern that is found most comfort for him/her. Muscular behavior during bottle holding and shampoo pouring tasks show that male and female have different preferences in dealing with different bottle design, where male have less hand stress with designs that achieve the best fit of their full hand, while female have less hand stress with designs that achieve the best fit of their fingertips, and therefore, the end-user gender must be considered in designs of such industries.

A definition of recycling waste disposal environment from the viewpoint of user-oriented design

A definition of recycling waste disposal environment from the viewpoint of user-oriented design

Avoiding Obsolescence in Mobile Health: Experiences in Designing a Mobile Support System for Complicated Documentation at Long-term Care Facilities.

This study examined staff perceptions of planned obsolescence during a transition from old to new handheld devices for long-term mobile healthcare. Questionnaires based on the technology acceptance model were used to evaluate perceived ease of use and usefulness. This study recruited 120 staff from 26 long-term care facilities who used the old device and 86 staff from nine of the 26 original facilities who used the new device. Although the new devices with advanced features scored significantly higher in acceptance ratings, users still expressed high acceptance of, satisfaction with, and willingness to use the old device, which featured an effective and carefully designed user interface. Usability design plays an essential role in preventing the obsolescence of mobile handheld technology.

A Preliminary Investigation into the Usability of Force Touch Interaction in a Mobile Context

<p class="0abstract">This paper details a preliminary evaluation into the usability and universal design of force touch interaction with older users as recently introduced into the Apple iOS9 operating system. The evaluation involved a small group of older users and two typical smartphone tasks. The tasks involved increasing font size and rotating an image on an Apple iPhone with iOS9 installed. The study recorded task times and semi-structured interview responses. The overall results indicated that the new force touch feature can gain good acceptance from older users, but that there were some usability and universal design problems with the feature which hampered the potential of full acceptance by older users.<strong> </strong></p>

Sino-InSpace: A Digital Simulation Platform for Virtual Space Environments

The implementation of increased space exploration missions reduces the distance between human beings and outer space. Although it is impossible for everyone to enter the remote outer space, virtual environments could provide computer-based digital spaces that we can observe, participate in, and experience. In this study, Sino-InSpace, a digital simulation platform, was developed to support the construction of virtual space environments. The input data are divided into two types, the environment element and the entity object, that are then supported by the unified time-space datum. The platform adopted the pyramid model and octree index to preprocess the geographic and space environment data, which ensured the efficiency of data loading and browsing. To describe objects perfectly, they were abstracted and modeled based on four aspects including attributes, ephemeris, geometry, and behavior. Then, the platform performed the organization of a visual scenario based on logical modeling and data modeling; in addition, it ensured smooth and flexible visual scenario displays using efficient data and rendering engines. Multilevel modes (application directly, visualization development, and scientific analysis) were designed to support multilevel applications for users from different grades and fields. Each mode provided representative case studies, which also demonstrated the capabilities of the platform for data integration, visualization, process deduction, and auxiliary analysis. Finally, a user study with human participants was conducted from multiple views (usability, user acceptance, presence, and software design). The results indicate that Sino-InSpace performs well in simulation for virtual space environments, while a virtual reality setup is beneficial for promoting the experience.

A platform for FPGA virtualization in clouds and data centers

Though Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have achieved significant performance gains for many application domains, implementing applications on FPGAs still remains a non-trivial task. This is especially true for FPGAs in a Data Center or a cloud. In this work a new platform for virtualizing FPGAs has been developed. It allows the rapid deployment (or porting) of applications on cloud-based or data-center attached FPGAs. A complete platform prototype has been implemented to evaluate the area, speed, and overhead of the proposed platform. The proposed platform provides a general abstract interface to any user's design (not domain specific) and supports dynamic partial reconfiguration (so designs can be added to an FPGA that have other applications running) at comparable overhead to other notable platforms. Experimental results using a streamed application in a cloud-like environment, showed that the proposed platform is a very viable computing option (in terms of throughput) for suitable applications compared to conventional server-based or virtual-machine based SW implementations.

Evidence-based usability design principles for medication alerting systems

BackgroundUsability flaws in medication alerting systems may have a negative impact on clinical use and patient safety. In order to prevent the release of alerting systems that contain such flaws, it is necessary to provide designers and evaluators with evidence-based usability design principles. The objective of the present study was to develop a comprehensive, structured list of evidence-based usability design principles for medication alerting systems.MethodsNine sets of design principles for medication alerting systems were analyzed, summarized, and structured. We then matched the summarized principles with a list of usability flaws in order to determine the level of underlying evidence.ResultsFifty-eight principles were summarized from the literature and two additional principles were defined, so that each flaw was matched with a principle. We organized the 60 summarized usability design principles into 6 meta-principles, 38 principles, and 16 sub-principles. Only 15 principles were not matched with a usability flaw. The 6 meta-principles respectively covered the improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio, the support for collaborative working, the fit with a clinician’s workflow, the data display, the transparency of the alerting system, and the actionable tools to be provided within an alert.ConclusionsIt is possible to develop an evidence-based, structured, comprehensive list of usability design principles that are specific to medication alerting systems and are illustrated by the corresponding usability flaws. This list represents an improvement over the current literature. Each principle is now associated with the best available evidence of its violation. This knowledge may help to improve the usability of medication alerting systems and, ultimately, decrease the harmful consequences of the systems’ usability flaws.

Advanced design of complex façades

ABSTRACTThe Digital Transformation offers completely new possibilities for architects and façade designers. Through the application of Artificial Intelligence many design decisions can be made automatically. Since most design tasks are ultimately unique and therefore not operational, fully automatic façade design will not always lead to a satisfactory result. For these reasons, the authors propose a targeted combination of rational (rule-based) and intuitive (poetic) design strategies. The design task is divided into operational subtasks that are processed automatically on the computer and non-operational subtasks that are solved by computers and humans together. A creative and agile design team evaluates different variants proposed by the computer. Promising developments will be pursued and further developed. Then the generative mechanism is adapted and the design is optimized. The concept is refined until a sustainable, user-oriented design is available. However, for the foreseeable future, the solution of non-operational problems will only be possible through human intelligence. The fear that good architecture can be generated at the push of a button and that computers will replace architects and engineers is therefore unfounded.

Defibrillator Design and Usability May Be Impeding Timely Defibrillation

Timely defibrillation is the only rhythm-specific therapy proven to increase survival to hospital discharge following cardiac arrest secondary to ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Delayed defibrillation occurs in more than 30% of this population. A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that unintuitive defibrillator design and lack of usability are barriers to timely defibrillation, as measured by time to defibrillation and the proportion of defibrillations delivered within 2 minutes. A mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) prospective usability study was performed to evaluate the use of a defibrillator in a simulated hospital environment. Participants were asked to perform two simulated tasks typical of in-hospital cardiac arrest care: defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion. The average time to defibrillation was 4 minutes 21 seconds. Only 9.1% of participants (2/22) performed a defibrillation within 2 minutes. Participants had difficulty with several aspects of defibrillator use, including attaching the hands-free defibrillator electrode pads and selecting an appropriate display. Participants rated defibrillator design 4.2 ± 1.8 (mean, standard deviation) on a perceived usability scale (1 = "poorly designed"; 9 = "perfectly designed"). Most participants were unable to perform a simulated defibrillation within 2 minutes. This delay in defibrillation was likely at least partially the result of poor defibrillator design and lack of usability. Expert observation and participant feedback were largely congruent in terms of which aspects of defibrillator design do not suit the end user. Modification of future defibrillator design, along with improved education and training, may result in more timely defibrillation.

Context-Aware Asset Search for Graphic Design.

Graphic design tools provide powerful controls for expert-level design creation, but the options can often be overwhelming for novices. This paper proposes Context-Aware Asset Search tools that take the current state of the user's design into account, thereby providing search and selections that are compatible with the current design and better fit the user's needs. In particular, we focus on image search and color selection, two tasks that are central to design. We learn a model for compatibility of images and colors within a design, using crowdsourced data. We then use the learned model to rank image search results or color suggestions during design. We found counterintuitive behavior using conventional training with pairwise comparisons for image search, where models with and without compatibility performed similarly. We describe a data collection procedure that alleviates this problem. We show that our method outperforms baseline approaches in quantitative evaluation, and we also evaluate a prototype interactive design tool.

Approach to exploring users’ expectations of digital services’ functionality

The rapid adaptation of the technologies in everyday life increases the competition between companies. The constant changes in customer preferences cause the businesses to look for new ways to increase market share and consumer loyalty. There is a need for a new customer service strategy, aimed at applying principles of user-oriented design of software applications. The main purpose of our study is to propose and approbate a survey-based approach to exploring users’ expectations from digital services’ functionality

A Case Study of Usability Design Principle in Responsive e-Commerce Web Application

A Case Study of Usability Design Principle in Responsive e-Commerce Web Application

An evaluation of the learning effectiveness of a formulated ideal social collaborative mobile learning environment application towards cognitive level in biology

The purpose of this research was to evaluate mobile learning app, namely iMLearning as a Formulated Ideal Social Collaborative Mobile Learning Environment (FISCOMOLE) with an aim of improving students' cognitive level based on higher order thinking skills and lower order thinking skills towards biology concept. Feasibility, functionality and usability design of the app together with its environment and content of the app were testified as well. A quasi-experimental research design of the non-randomised control group, pre-test post-test with two control-group design model was used. Three high schools with a class of 40 Form Four (year 10) students in each class, which were assigned by class to be the two control groups, and one experimental group. The results showed that the FISCOMOLE that incorporated in iMLearning app is more helpful to the students in improving LOTS towards biology concept rather than HOTS either between different approaches or among its own approach.

Designing medical technology for resilience: integrating health economics and human factors approaches

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The slow adoption of innovation into healthcare calls into question the manner of evidence generation for medical technology. This paper identifies potential reasons for this including a lack of attention to human factors, poor evaluation of economic benefits, lack of understanding of the existing healthcare system and a failure to recognise the need to generate resilient products.Areas covered: Recognising a cross-disciplinary need to enhance evidence generation early in a technology’s life cycle, the present paper proposes a new approach that integrates human factors and health economic evaluation as part of a wider systems approach to the design of technology. This approach (Human and Economic Resilience Design for Medical Technology or HERD MedTech) supports early stages of product development and is based on the recent experiences of the National Institute for Health Research London Diagnostic Evidence Co-operative in the UK.Expert commentary: HERD MedTech i) proposes a shift from design for usability to design for resilience, ii) aspires to reduce the need for service adaptation to technological constraints iii) ensures value of innovation at the time of product development, and iv) aims to stimulate discussion around the integration of pre- and post-market methods of assessment of medical technology.

Systematic Literature Review on Usability of Firewall Configuration

Firewalls are network security components that handle incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of rules. The process of correctly configuring a firewall is complicated and prone to error, and it worsens as the network complexity grows. A poorly configured firewall may result in major security threats; in the case of a network firewall, an organization’s security could be endangered, and in the case of a personal firewall, an individual computer’s security is threatened. A major reason for poorly configured firewalls, as pointed out in the literature, is usability issues. Our aim is to identify existing solutions that help professional and non-professional users to create and manage firewall configuration files, and to analyze the proposals in respect of usability. A systematic literature review with a focus on the usability of firewall configuration is presented in the article. Its main goal is to explore what has already been done in this field. In the primary selection procedure, 1,202 articles were retrieved and then screened. The secondary selection led us to 35 articles carefully chosen for further investigation, of which 14 articles were selected and summarized. As main contributions, we propose a taxonomy of existing solutions as well as a synthesis and in-depth discussion about the state of the art in firewall usability. Among the main findings, we perceived that there is a lack (or even an absence) of usability evaluation or user studies to validate the proposed models. Although all articles are related to the topic of usability, none of them clearly defines it, and only a few actually employ usability design principles and/or guidelines.

System for CT-guided needle placement in the thorax and abdomen: A design for clinical acceptability, applicability and usability.

Various systems exist for CT-guided needle placement in the thorax and abdomen, but widespread adoption is lacking. The goal of this work is to develop a system for precise needle placement with a design focus on clinical acceptability, applicability and usability. A system was outlined incorporating a needle guide on a mechanism with a remote centre of motion, manually placeable around the patient at the desired entry point and lockable by push-button to the CT table. System and patient are scanned for system-to-CT registration and target specification. The needle guide is automatically aimed at the target, for manual needle insertion to specified depth. A fully functional prototype was realized, achieving 1.2±0.6 mm placement error at 79.0±8.4 mm depth and 2.1±0.7 mm at 156.0±6.9 mm for 2×12 in- and out-of-plane punctures in a gelatin phantom. The system enables precise needle placement in a single insertion and is ready for its first clinical deployment.

Research on the Application of the Industrial Cycle Temperature Control Electromechanical Integration Technology in High Precision Weighing System

Traditional design technology has been enriched and improved in content, model and methods thanks to the development of computational mathematics, engineering mechanics, mechanical dynamics, electronic information technology and computer technology, with the concept transforming from manufacturing-oriented design to user-oriented design. Typical electromechanical integration technology, based on electronic control, replaces the conventional control system with computer, and thus simplifies the mechanical structure. With high functionality and reliability, and improved operability and production efficiency, mechatronics technology has been extensively developed and used. With the substantial development and thorough integration of modern computer technology and mechanical design theory, the weighing technology in China has also been improved. It has become an inevitable trend to combine the new weighing design concept with electromechanical integration technology to be a new weighing system for more innovative and adaptive products.