Eva Villegas

User Experiences and Differences in Viewing Architectural Images with Various Interfaces

This paper proposes an empirical approach to the visualization phase of architectural images, employing established concepts, methodologies, and measurement techniques found in media psychology and user-centered studies. The paper proposes a human-centered approach for conceptualizing visualization technologies and evaluating the quality concept of images to simulate a satisfactory architectural experience. The authors use psychophysiological measures to capture the affective component of image quality experience facilitated by different displays, including immersive and nonimmersive displays. These types of visualizations are important for empirically evaluating the experiential aspects of an architectural space and other types of images.

Exploring new interaction systems on quiz shows

The participation in television quiz shows has traditionally two types of profiles: the contestant and the home viewer. This project has the goal to define the requirements to create a new user profile: the remote contestant, the type of participant who would interact with a TV show from a multimedia device. This study shows a prototype test created from the descriptions, requirements and motivations extracted from the analysis of users needs and desires. The prototype allows interaction between a TV channel created for this project and other platforms sync with a TV quiz show. This paper will present the findings and main conclusions of the experience of the users testing this new model of interaction for TV shows.

1st international workshop on media studies and implementations that help improving access to disabled users (MSIADU'09)

This Workshop is based on the work carried out during the 3rd International Workshop on Human-Centered Computing (HCC08) held at the ACM Multimedia 2008 conference in Vancouver [1]. There, participants discussed on how to use technology to achieve an accessible environment for the disabled. The event seeks to find original and highly innovative research in the area of Multimedia (studies and implementations) in order to improve accessibility to real and virtual scenarios that might be applied to all kinds of users with disabilities or difficulties when implementing concrete actions (navigation or interaction with a particular medium). Furthermore, we need solutions to adapt the environment, products and services, to the final needs of the user.

Mobile Visualization of Architectural Projects: Quality and Emotional Evaluation Based on User Experience

The visualization of architectural design has always been associated with physical models, exhibition panels and displays on computer screens, usually in a large format. However, technological developments in the past decades have produced new devices such as handheld PCs, pocket PCs, and Smartphones that have increasingly larger screens and more sophisticated technical characteristics. The emergence of these devices has made both the non expert and advanced user a consumer of such devices. This evolution has created a new workflow that enables on-site management and decision making through the viewing of information on those devices. In this paper, we will study the basic features of the architectural image to provide a better user experience for browsing these types of images on mobile devices’ limited and heterogeneous screen sizes by comparing the results with traditional and immersive environments.

CREA: Defining Future Multiplatform Interaction on TV Shows through a User Experience Study

Television programs use to involve a passive role by the viewer. The aim of the project described in this article is about changing the roll of the viewer to become a participant. To achieve this goal it is necessary to define a type of application that does not yet exist. The way to get information on how to create a positive user experience of an interactive television game show concept has been to involve users on the product concept definition phase.Applying user experience exploration techniques centered on users needs and desires the main factors that would affect the user in case of developing this concept have been obtained. Using a qualitative strategic design method is possible to achieve well-defined and subtle information regarding the motivations and desirable game mechanics for the future users.

Improving the design of accessible web pages through a study of user experience in order to define requirements

An accessible web page is considered one which meets the framework determined by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) meets the conditions WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) which provides the regulations (WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). The study is based on the information gathered from a project carried out on handicapped users [1] (according to the OMS classification [2]). A task-based test assessed their navigation from an AA (double A) accessible web page (this being the accessibility level accepted under Spanish law). The analysis of the date highlights accessibility versus user experience and user experience versus the autonomy of the user to navigate. Once the results are obtained, they are analysed and used for a second phase in which the design of the web page is created so that the page is accessible to users (considered user-friendly) and that the level of usability is considered satisfactory. These results, based on testing by handicapped users, have led to more positive results. The article is focuses on the comparison of a page created with accessibility in mind and a page which has been created with the aim of satisfying the users when aspects of content and graphic design were determined, while adhering to legal accessibility requirements. The accessibility validation cycle of the web has been analyzed through: an automatic validation process, a manual validation, a user-based validation, a review carried out by a specialist web consultant which shows the need to create a page which is designed, structured and whose content is adapted to the previously defined user requirements with the objective of creating an accessible user experience.