Investigating User Experience Research Articles

Compensating elastic faults in a torque-assisted knee exoskeleton: functional evaluation and user perception study

Wearable robots are often powered by elastic actuators, which can mimic the intrinsic compliance observed in human joints, contributing to safe and seamless interaction. However, due to their increased complexity, when compared to direct drives, elastic actuators are susceptible to faults, which pose significant challenges, potentially compromising user experience and safety during interaction. In this article, we developed a fault-tolerant control strategy for torque assistance in a knee exoskeleton and investigated user experience during a walking task while emulating faults. We implemented and evaluated the torque control scheme, based on impedance control, for a mechanically adjustable compliance actuator with nonlinear torque-deflection characteristics. Conducted functional evaluation experiments showed that the control strategy is capable of providing support during gait based on a torque profile. A user study was conducted to evaluate the impact of fault severity and compensation on the perception of support, stiffness, comfort, and trust while walking with the exoskeleton. Results from the user study revealed significant differences in participants’ responses when comparing support and stiffness levels without fault compensation. In contrast, no significant differences were found when faults were compensated, indicating that fault tolerance can be achieved in practice. Meanwhile, comfort and trust measurements do not seem to depend directly on torque support levels, pointing to other influencing factors that could be considered in future research.

Developing an AI-based Explainable Expert Support System for Art Therapy

Sketch-based drawing assessments in art therapy are widely used to understand individuals’ cognitive and psychological states, such as cognitive impairments or mental disorders. Along with self-reported measures based on questionnaires, psychological drawing assessments can augment information regarding an individual’s psychological state. Interpreting drawing assessments demands significant time and effort, particularly for large groups such as schools or companies, and relies on the expertise of art therapists. To address this issue, we propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-based expert support system called AlphaDAPR to support art therapists and psychologists in conducting large-scale automatic drawing assessments. In Study 1, we first investigated user experience in AlphaDAPR . Through surveys involving 64 art therapists, we observed a substantial willingness (64.06% of participants) in using the proposed system. Structural equation modeling highlighted the pivotal role of explainable AI in the interface design, affecting perceived usefulness, trust, satisfaction, and intention to use. However, our interviews unveiled a nuanced perspective: while many art therapists showed a strong inclination to use the proposed system, they also voiced concerns about potential AI limitations and risks. Since most concerns arose from insufficient trust, which was the focal point of our attention, we conducted Study 2 with the aim of enhancing trust. Study 2 delved deeper into the necessity of clear communication regarding the division of roles between AI and users for elevating trust. Through experimentation with another 26 art therapists, we demonstrated that clear communication enhances users’ trust in our system. Our work not only highlights the potential of AlphaDAPR to streamline drawing assessments but also underscores broader implications for human-AI collaboration in psychological domains. By addressing concerns and optimizing communication, we pave the way for a symbiotic relationship between AI and human expertise, ultimately enhancing the efficacy and accessibility of psychological assessment tools.

Investigating User Experience Disparity in E-Commerce: A Case Study of Computer Science Professionals vs. Regular Users on the Saudi Airlines Platform

This research aims to elucidate the divergent perspectives of computer science professionals and general users on e-commerce system usability. By examining the Saudi Airlines reservation system as a case study, this study seeks to identify key disparities in user experience between these two groups. The research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how system design can be optimized to cater to a wider range of users. A user experience evaluation of the system was undertaken using the user experience questionnaire (UEQ) framework, focusing on the dimensions of attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty. Findings indicate no significant disparity in user experience between regular and professional computer users when interacting with the Saudia Airlines reservation system. However, a notable trend emerged: a mean increase of 1.96 in perspicuity ratings and a mean decrease of 0.53 in novelty ratings across all user groups. The research findings offer a valuable resource for Saudia development teams in their pursuit of optimising the reservations website. Specifically, the results provide actionable insights for enhancing the system’s interface and overall user experience.

Diagnostics for optimised dengue surveillance: a qualitative focus group study to investigate user experience and requirements in Thailand

ObjectivesEffective, real-time surveillance of dengue may provide early warning of outbreaks and support targeted disease-control intervention but requires widespread accurate diagnosis and timely case reporting. Research directing innovation in diagnostics...

Patient Perspectives on Blended Internet-Based and Face-to-Face Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: Qualitative Study.

Harmful alcohol consumption has been identified as a major contributor to disease, mortality, and social harm, accounting for 5.3% of worldwide deaths annually. In Denmark, an estimated 150,000 people suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD), but a low proportion seek treatment due to person- and treatment-related barriers. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) has shown positive effects on the treatment gap, with patients reporting benefits such as increased knowledge and flexibility. However, there is a lack of research on blended cognitive behavioral therapy (bCBT), which combines face-to-face CBT (FtF CBT) and iCBT for AUD. This study aims to investigate user experiences of bCBT. More specifically, it seeks to explore the advantages and disadvantages that users have experienced with bCBT for AUD, as well as their motivations for choosing this treatment format. A total of 30 patients who had participated in the Blend-A (Blending Internet Treatment into Conventional Face-to-Face Treatment for AUD) study and received the intervention were contacted and offered the opportunity to participate in semistructured individual telephone interviews. Of these, 12 patients consented to participate. Furthermore, an additional participant was approached at a municipal clinic and agreed to engage in an individual FtF interview. Thus, the final sample consisted of 13 patients. The interviews explored their background, experiences with digital technology, motivations for choosing internet-based treatment, and experiences with the program during AUD treatment. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed in full length and analyzed using thematic analysis. All data were anonymized and securely stored. We found that users experienced several advantages of iCBT over a larger part of the treatment course, including increased anonymity and privacy. Most importantly, it offered flexibility, allowing patients to focus on their rehabilitation process at their own pace. Patients appreciated the availability of written text in the online program, finding it helpful for gaining knowledge and understanding of AUD and its impact on the individual with the condition. They emphasized how the assignments helped them fully engage in treatment by first acknowledging their problem with alcohol and then dedicating time to self-reflection before FtF sessions, allowing for more in-depth discussions with the therapist. They also appreciated the reminders, which motivated them to complete their assignments. Overall, patients perceived more benefits than disadvantages in using bCBT. Essentially, bCBT offers a form of assisted autonomy that cannot be fully achieved through iCBT or FtF CBT alone. It is only through their combination that patients can fully appreciate the benefits of the treatment, as they have time for self-reflection, with guidance from the therapist between FtF CBT sessions. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04535258; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04535258.

Investigating User Experience of an Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation Based on a Gesture-Based User Interface

Investigating User Experience of an Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation Based on a Gesture-Based User Interface

Investigating User Experience of VR Art Exhibitions: The Impact of Immersion, Satisfaction, and Expectation Confirmation

As an innovative form in the digital age, VR art exhibitions have attracted increasing attention. This study aims to explore the key factors that influence visitors’ continuance intention to VR art exhibitions using the expectation confirmation model and experience economy theory and to explore ways to enhance visitor immersion in virtual environments. We conducted a quantitative study of 235 art professionals and enthusiasts, conducted using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), to examine the complex relationship between confirmation (CON), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Aesthetic Experiences (AE), Escapist Experiences (EE), Satisfaction (SAT), and Continuance Intention (CI). The results show that confirmation plays a key role in shaping PU, AE, and EE, which in turn positively affect visitors’ SAT. Among these factors, AE positively impacts PU, but EE have no impact. A comprehensive theoretical model was then constructed based on the findings. This research provides empirical support for designing and improving VR art exhibitions. It also sheds light on the application of expectation confirmation theory and experience economy theory in the art field to improve user experience and provides theoretical guidance for the sustainable development of virtual digital art environment.

The impact and user experience of a student-led clinic providing preventative services.

Preventative services are required to address the risk factors for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. The National Health Service Health Checks in England were introduced to provide such services. One School of Pharmacy established a student-led clinic to provide this service to the local community. The clinic was provided by undergraduate pharmacy students and delivered free of charge within a central city locality. The aim was to explore the impact of the clinic on user thoughts and motivations around healthy living and investigate user experience. A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was used consisting of a survey that measured users' thoughts about their health and well-being and experience of the clinic. Qualitative interviews explored the user experience and barriers and facilitators to making healthier lifestyle choices. One hundred and fifty-four members of the public accessed the clinic over the evaluative period. Ninety-six (60%) completed the pre-post survey and 12 participated in follow-up interviews. Users reported statistically significant improvements in how informed, competent and motivated they felt towards making healthier lifestyle choices after the clinic consultation. Interview findings highlighted the positive user experience, reported appreciation for clinic accessibility, availability of healthy lifestyle education, and a desire for more preventative services being as readily available. The student-led clinic has demonstrated positive impacts on user experience, knowledge, competence, and motivation to make healthier lifestyle choices. The clinic provides proof-of-concept for pharmacy students to deliver preventative community services that aim to improve population health at a time when primary care is experiencing unprecedented challenges.

Exploring the Facets of the Multiplayer VR Gaming Experience

While the topic of investigating user experience with immersive services, such as Social Virtual Reality (VR), is starting to gain traction in the research community, the unique case of multiplayer VR games requires a more specific approach. Attempts to investigate user experiences with this complex, multidimensional service are hindered by the absence of specific standards and guidelines going beyond what we know about non-immersive gaming. In this article, we present the results of a user study (N = 32) exploring participants’ experience of playing two competitive VR games of different genres (shooter, sports game), as we focus on three distinct facets of multiplayer VR gaming — network, interpersonal competitiveness, and social interaction. Furthermore, approaching the issue from the perspective of Quality of Experience researchers looking to conduct future user studies on the topic, we also present our findings as a way to shed light on factors that need further consideration, especially in the context of participant recruitment and methodology design, such as the choice of access network to be used for testing, and the issue of matchmaking study participants based on skill and prior relationship.

BookTok: A Narrative Review of Current Literature and Directions for Future Research.

Harvesting hundreds of billions of views, the hashtag #BookTok on TikTok is currently having a global impact on the production, distribution and reception of literature. This article assesses the academic research conducted thus far on this online literary phenomenon. It differentiates among three directions in the research: (1) BookTok as a specific form of book reviewing; (2) BookTok as a literary community-builder; and (3) BookTok as an agent in reading promotion. Based on this narrative review, directions for future research are explored, with particular attention to the use of empirical methodologies to further investigate user experiences, the application of a celebrity studies lens, and a focus on BookTok accounts that combine affective and critical approaches to literature, exploring discussions on political, social, and environmental issues within the platform.

Clinical Uptake of Pediatric Exoskeletons: Pilot Study Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

While the design and clinical evidence base of robot-assisted gait training devices has been advancing, few studies investigate user experiences with accessing and using such devices in pediatric rehabilitation. This pilot study aims to further the understanding of barriers encountered by clinicians and caregivers when implementing a robot-assisted gait training device. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a local outpatient pediatric therapy center with a robot-assisted gait training exoskeleton. Six caregivers and six clinicians participated in semistructured interviews with brief surveys. The surveys were summarized with descriptive statistics. The interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. The five most mentioned Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research constructs were knowledge and beliefs, relative advantage, child attributes, complexity, and access to knowledge and information. Caregivers experienced obstacles to accessing and trialing robot-assisted gait training devices. Clinicians expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of incorporating robot-assisted gait training into their clinic and preferred lower-tech gait training techniques. While some aspects of access and usability may be addressed by device design and technological advancements, overcoming other barriers will require a deeper understanding of the roles of scientific evidence, personal beliefs, and current therapy workflows in the uptake of robotic interventions.

Environmental impacts of repurposing phone booths as COVID-19 sampling stations

ABSTRACT The presented research examines the repurposing of decommissioned phonebooth units to COVID-19 sampling stations as a meaningful attempt to promote environmentally sustainable and socially resilient cities by contributing to a circular economy transition. The repurposing approach is compared to an adequate new build design using a life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental implications and a time-cost comparison for their implementation. The results indicate that the remodelling of the phone booth improves environmental performance. The expanded need for refurbishment is offset by the need to use virgin material for the new stations. The benefit of finding reuse for the phone booths and extending their lifetime further supports this understanding, demonstrating the adaptive approach as a viable strategy for utilising an otherwise disused urban infrastructure with uncertain end-of-life. Cost-time results show that repurposing is less expensive due to the donated phone booths and low production numbers. On the other hand, new sampling stations take less time to produce. Future studies investigate user experiences and social benefits of the realised sampling station based on phone booth repurposing.

‘I want him to tell me he loves me’: A smart audio device, Tochie, for resident‐family connection in long‐term care

Older people living in long-term care homes are particularly susceptible to loneliness and social isolation, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated further. 'Tochie' is a smart audio device that allows family members to remotely record and send messages, such as daily reminders and comforting recordings, to their loved ones in LTC settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using Tochie to improve resident-family connections, and to investigate user experience, impact and lessons learned. Participants included 10 residents, nine family members and six care staff from two LTC homes in British Columbia, Canada. A Tochie was provided to each resident to use with their family members over a 4-week intervention period. The research team provided support and gathered feedback from family members and care staff through weekly phone and email correspondence. Qualitative descriptive design was used, including pre- and post-intervention focus groups and interviews held via Zoom and phone to gather participants' experiences with Tochie. Themes were identified through thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: (1) Facilitating emotional connection, (2) Using the device in creative and personalised ways and (3) Structural challenges and supports. Based on these findings, recommendations for future research and practice are provided. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a rethinking of what it means to 'stay in touch' with loved ones in LTC settings. This study found that Tochie has opened up new opportunities for family connection and provided emotional support for residents. The results of this study offer valuable insights into the implementation of assistive technology in LTC homes to support resident care.

Transparency and Trustworthiness in User Intentions to Follow Career Recommendations from a Learning Analytics Tool

Transparency and trustworthiness are among the key requirements for the ethical use of learning analytics (LA) and artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of social inclusion and equity. However, research on these issues pertaining to users is lacking, leaving it unclear as to how transparent and trustworthy current LA tools are for their users and how perceptions of these variables relate to user behaviour. In this study, we investigate user experiences of an LA tool in the context of career guidance, which plays a crucial role in supporting nonlinear career pathways for individuals. We review the ethical challenges of big data, AI, and LA in connection to career guidance and analyze the user experiences (N = 106) of the LA career guidance tool, which recommends study programs and institutions to users. Results indicate that the LA career guidance tool was evaluated as trustworthy but not transparent. Accuracy was found to be a stronger predictor for the intention to follow on the recommendations of the LA guidance tool than was understanding the origins of the recommendation. The user’s age emerged as an important factor in their assessment of transparency. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest emphasizing accuracy in the development of LA tools for career guidance.

Transparency and Trustworthiness in User Intentions to Follow Career Recommendations from a Learning Analytics Tool

Transparency and trustworthiness are among the key requirements for the ethical use of learning analytics (LA) and artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of social inclusion and equity. However, research on these issues pertaining to users is lacking, leaving it unclear as to how transparent and trustworthy current LA tools are for their users and how perceptions of these variables relate to user behaviour. In this study, we investigate user experiences of an LA tool in the context of career guidance, which plays a crucial role in supporting nonlinear career pathways for individuals. We review the ethical challenges of big data, AI, and LA in connection to career guidance and analyze the user experiences (N = 106) of the LA career guidance tool, which recommends study programs and institutions to users. Results indicate that the LA career guidance tool was evaluated as trustworthy but not transparent. Accuracy was found to be a stronger predictor for the intention to follow on the recommendations of the LA guidance tool than was understanding the origins of the recommendation. The user’s age emerged as an important factor in their assessment of transparency. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest emphasizing accuracy in the development of LA tools for career guidance.

Analysis of user interactions with a digital health wallet for enabling care continuity in the context of an ongoing pandemic.

The onset of COVID-19 and related policy responses made it difficult to study interactive health informatics solutions in clinical study settings. Instrumented log and event data from interactive systems capture temporal details that can be used to generate insights about care continuity during ongoing pandemics. To investigate user interactions with a digital health wallet (DHW) system for addressing care continuity challenges in chronic disease management in the context of an ongoing pandemic. We analyzed user interaction log data generated by clinicians, nurses, and patients from the deployment of a DHW in a feasibility study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. We used the Hamming distance from Information Theory to quantify deviations of usage patterns extracted from the events data from predetermined workflow sequences supported by the platform. Nurses interacted with all the user interface elements relevant to triage. Clinicians interacted with only 43% of elements relevant to consultation, while patients interacted with 67% of the relevant user interface elements. Nurses and clinicians deviated from the predetermined workflow sequences by 42% and 36%, respectively. Most deviations pertained to users going back to previous steps in their usage workflow. User interaction log analysis is a valuable alternative method for generating and quantifying user experiences in the context of ongoing pandemics. However, researchers should mitigate the potential disruptions of the actual use of the studied technologies as well as use multiple approaches to investigate user experiences of health technology during pandemics.

Designing evidence-based support aids for social media access for individuals with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury: A preliminary acceptability study.

Adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) report significant barriers to using current social media platforms, including cognitive overload and challenges in interpreting social cues. Rehabilitation providers may be tasked with helping to address these barriers. To develop technological supports to increase social media accessibility for people with TBI-related cognitive impairments and to obtain preliminary data on the perceived acceptability, ease of use, and utility of proposed technology aids. We identified four major barriers to social media use among individuals with TBI: sensory overload, memory impairments, misreading of social cues, and a lack of confidence to actively engage on social media platforms. We describe the process of developing prototypes of support aids aimed at reducing these specific social media barriers. We created mock-ups of these prototypes and asked 46 community-dwelling adults with TBI (24 females) to rate the proposed aids in terms of their acceptability, ease of use, and utility. Across all aids, nearly one-third of respondents agreed they would use the proposed aids frequently, and the majority of respondents rated the proposed aids as easy to use. Respondents indicated that they would be more likely to use the memory and post-writing aids than the attention and social cue interpretation aids. Findings provide initial support for social-media-specific technology aids to support social media access and social participation for adults with TBI. Results from this study have design implications for future development of evidence-based social media support aids. Future work should develop and deploy such aids and investigate user experience.

Incorporating Consumers' Needs in Nutrition Apps to Promote and Maintain Use: Mixed Methods Study.

Nutrition apps seem to be promising tools for supporting consumers toward healthier eating habits. There is a wide variety of nutrition apps available; however, users often discontinue app use at an early stage before a permanent change in dietary behavior can be achieved. The main objective of this study was to identify, from both a user and nonuser perspective, which functionalities should be included in nutrition apps to increase intentions to start and maintain use of these apps. A secondary objective was to gain insight into reasons to quit using nutrition apps at an early stage. This study used a mixed methods approach and included a qualitative and a quantitative study. The qualitative study (n=40) consisted of a home-use test with 6 commercially available nutrition apps, followed by 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) to investigate user experiences. The quantitative study was a large-scale survey (n=1420), which was performed in a representative sample of the Dutch population to quantify the FGDs' results. In the survey, several app functionalities were rated on 7-point Likert scales ranging from 1 (very unimportant) to 7 (very important). A total of 3 different phases of app use, subdivided into 10 user-centric app aspects and 46 associated app functionalities, were identified as relevant nutrition app elements in the FGDs. Relevance was confirmed in the survey, as all user-centric aspects and almost all app functionalities were rated as important to include in a nutrition app. In the starting phase, a clear introduction (mean 5.45, SD 1.32), purpose (mean 5.40, SD 1.40), and flexible food tracking options (mean 5.33, SD 1.45) were the most important functionalities. In the use phase, a complete and reliable food product database (mean 5.58, SD 1.41), easy navigation (mean 5.56, SD 1.36), and limited advertisements (mean 5.53, SD 1.51) were the most important functionalities. In the end phase, the possibility of setting realistic goals (mean 5.23, SD 1.44), new personal goals (mean 5.13, SD 1.45), and continuously offering new information (mean 4.88, SD 1.44) were the most important functionalities. No large differences between users, former users, and nonusers were found. The main reason for quitting a nutrition app in the survey was the high time investment (14/38, 37%). This was also identified as a barrier in the FGDs. Nutrition apps should be supportive in all 3 phases of use (start, use, and end) to increase consumers' intentions to start and maintain the use of these apps and achieve a change in dietary behavior. Each phase includes several key app functionalities that require specific attention from app developers. High time investment is an important reason to quit nutrition app use at an early stage.

Investigating User Experience of On-Body Heating Strategies in Indoor Environments

Thermal physiology and psychophysics are complex and nuanced, with significant variability between individuals. Wearable devices have the potential to offer customizable microclimate control. However, individual experiences with different supplemental heating strategies are likely to vary considerably in unconstrained environments. The physiological responses, psychophysical effects, and qualitative experiences of participants using five readily available heating strategies were collected in a quasi-field study environment ( n=17). Although all devices maintained or increased fingertip temperature, effects observed from controlled studies of thermal physiology are not clearly seen. Physiological, perceptual, and experiential data are presented, exploring heating technologies and thermal comfort in typical indoor environments.

공간 확장이 적용된 몰입형 미디어아트 공간에서의 사용자 경험(UX) 디자인 개선 연구

The paper is a study on improving user experience design in an immersive media art space with spatial expansion. Research has enabled to investigate user experiences in immersive media architectural spaces and present extended experience processes and design paradigms. The research method first analyzes the terminology of immersive media art and four domestic and international examples since 2018. Second, The research describe the terminology of UX and UX designs through the literature and the steps of constructing usability testing through interview techniques. Third, I build interview questionnaires considering user experience based on perceptual, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional stages. Fourth, interviews were conducted, the results were collected, and organized. Finally, based on the results of the interview, the considerations were identified. As a result, The research derive the advantages of immersive media art, implementation challenges, and elements of its effectiveness. The research also proposed future applicable measures and development directions to improve the problem. The implications of the study are that it can be utilized as a framework when implementing immersive media art in the future. If applied in consideration of the problems and directions derived from the study, the effect of immersive media art will be maximized. However, because media is a screen that uses light, technical limitations conflict because it still feels like a complete space. Therefore, it is important to focus on the problem and solve it, but at the same time, it is a more important task to highlight its purpose and provide new experiences by taking advantage of media such as space expansion and movement.