Fong Gong Wu

A new user-centered design approach: A hair washing assistive device design for users with shoulder mobility restriction

This study utilized a user-centered design approach as the foundation for a new Assistive Device (AD) design process. Observation and evaluation results from a Usability Context Analysis (UCA) was used to improve the analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT Analysis) and the matrix of Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, and Strengths (TOWS matrix), resulting in two assistive device design methods named AD-SWOT and AD-TOWS. Thus, an AD-design process, tailored for designing assistive devices, was both established and tested. Owing to the information gained from using the design processes and evaluating product efficiency with various cases in the early part of the research, it was decided to use the AD-design process for the entire design process. Using this process, an adjustable hair washer for physically disabled individuals to wash their hair using normal postures was developed. Furthermore, the method derived in this study can also be applied to users suffering from single-sided shoulder-joint mobility disabilities, such as frontal flexion, scapular plan elevation, and restricted abductors.

Direct-touch vs. mouse input for navigation modes of the web map

Nowadays the web map (E-map) is becoming a widely-used wayfinding tool. However, when it is operated with a different input device, its performance will be affected. To investigate its functional performances in various navigation modes, two input devices were employed, i.e., the mouse and the touch screen. Meanwhile, the map websites over the Internet were searched and examined, and three dominant navigation modes in current use were identified: (1) continuous control and continuous display (CCCD), (2) discrete control and continuous display (DCCD), and (3) discrete control and discrete display (DCDD). Then, the experimental interfaces were designed and simulated tests were separately conducted with the mouse and the touch screen to evaluate the performance results. In this research, 36 volunteers participated in the experiment, whose task completion times and user interface actions (total number of clicks on arrow keys) were analyzed through a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the six types of operational performance. It was finally discovered that, in all of the navigation modes, the mouse performed remarkably better than the touch screen in terms of task completion time (F2,70 = 3.28, p < .001). Moreover, the participants did much better in the CCCD mode than in the other modes whether they used the mouse or the touch screen. The findings will be utilized by our research team as the stepping stone to the development of a navigation mode compatible with both the mouse and the touch screen; besides, they will serve as a reference when the web map is further studied and practically designed.

Preferences of young children regarding interface layouts in child community web sites

Abstract This study investigates the child preferences regarding interface layouts in child community web sites. The objective of studying this area is to identify ways of making web sites more usable for children. Two experiments are conducted: interface layout experiment and layout evaluation. In the interface layout experiment, researchers recruited eight fifth-grade students with approximately one-year of Internet experience to arrange interface components and make research interfaces. During the layout evaluation, 16 students with some computer background are divided into two groups and asked to manipulate research interfaces and experimental interfaces, a sample of child community websites on Yahoo. Every movement of the tested students is recorded and the experiment is followed by retrospective interviews with the students. Four criteria of manipulative performance, degree of manipulation, recognition, remembrance and satisfaction, are then shown and discussed. The findings of the layout evaluation indicate that the research interfaces are superior to the experimental interfaces. In addition, this study proposes some interface layout guidelines for child community websites.

Effects of color sample display and color sample grouping on screen layout usability for customized product color selection

This study investigates the effects of color sample display and color sample grouping on the usability (task efficiency and user preference) of a color combination interface. A 180-subject nested design experiment tested each of the three levels of color sample grouping (associative color number, color series, and product section) against each of the two levels of color sample display (color chip, product thumbnail) for efficiency and effectiveness (search time and error rate). A separate 30-subject experiment evaluated user preference. Of the three grouping types, product section (grouping of color chips or product thumbnails to correspond with modular sections of a product preview image) yielded the lowest search time and error rates. Of the two display types, product thumbnails achieved the highest user preference. Of the six formation-display configurations, color sample chips grouped by product section yielded both the lowest search time and highest preference.

The enhanced navigator for the touch screen: A comparative study on navigational techniques of web maps

Abstract Nowadays the web map (E-map) is an indispensable wayfinding tool in the Internet-based society. However, its usability will vary with a different navigational technique or input device. The navigational techniques currently adopted by various web maps were investigated and analyzed. Moreover, two input devices, i.e., the mouse and the touch screen, were operated in four navigational techniques to study the differences in their functions and performances. Later, the research findings were utilized to develop a new navigational technique. The research was divided into two stages. During the first stage, all the navigational techniques in current use were investigated and compared. Then, based on the results of analysis, the enhanced navigator with continuous control (ENCC) was designed. During the second stage, the searching and browsing techniques of different web maps were simulated. Afterwards, the mouse and the touch screen were employed separately to conduct simulation tests in the following navigational techniques: (1) combined panning buttons (CPB), (2) distributed panning buttons (DPB), (3) ENCC, and (4) GD besides, the subjective evaluation questionnaires were answered. It was discovered that the mouse did better than the touch screen in the four navigational techniques. Besides, among the four techniques, ENCC showed the best performance. Capable of continuous control and continuous display, the ENCC interface was upgraded in terms of operational speed and directional control. The findings can be used as a reference in the design of web maps. Also, it is suggested that ENCC should be widely applied to touch screens and mice so that the navigation of information space may be facilitated.

Evaluation of the realistic effect of image compositing to assist in curtain selection

Abstract The research proposes the image compositing approach to assist in curtain selection and explores in depth the factors that influence the effect of curtain image compositing. Realistic effects were assessed by analysis of the subjective evaluations of furnishing professionals after exposure to various combinations of factor levels shown on a computer monitor. Results show that grayscale contrast, texture pattern and texture opacity are significant factors and that there are no interactions among the factors which affect the realistic effect. Furthermore, the optimum overall realistic effect with a score of 0.95 is the combination of 60% grayscale contrast with small texture pattern and 60% texture opacity. The result implies that the image compositing approach is an effective method to assist in curtain selection and greatly facilitates manufacturer communication with consumers. In addition, the overall realistic effect can also be derived from a regression model on texture realistic effect, light/darkness realistic effect and hue realistic effect. Relevance to industry The proposed image compositing approach can be extended to industries related to furnishing such as wallpaper, carpet, floor tiling and furniture manufacturers to improve the efficiency of the traditional selection process, minimize communication time with consumers, promote sales, and enhance the degree of satisfaction for both consumers and manufacturers.

New chording text entry methods combining physical and virtual buttons on a mobile phone

Traditional mobile phones depend on MultiTap, virtual or physical QWERTY keyboard for text entry, and they had some respective drawbacks include low input performance, occupying too large an area, high error rates, lack of feedbacks, etc. Therefore, some researches utilized the characteristics of the chording keyboard to improve input performance. Yet, as the learning efficiency of the chording keyboard is too low, users are not highly willing to learn. In view of that, this study combines the physical and virtual keys, and develops two chording input methods, MagArea and MemoryTap. After three days of learning, the fourteen experiment participants show effectively reduce error rates on MagArea, and they enhance their input speed on MemoryTap. In addition, excellent learning efficiency is found in the two methods, will be more motivated and willing to employ.

An investigation of the performance of novel chorded keyboards in combination with pointing input devices.

Rapid advances in computing power have driven the development of smaller and lighter technology products, with novel input devices constantly being produced in response to new user behaviors and usage contexts. The aim of this research was to investigate the feasibility of operating chorded keyboard control modules in concert with pointing devices such as styluses and mice. We compared combinations of two novel chorded keyboards with different pointing devices in hopes of finding a better combination for future electronic products. Twelve participants were recruited for simulation testing, and paired sample t testing was conducted to determine whether input and error rates for the novel keyboards were improved significantly over those of traditional input methods. The most efficient input device combination tested was the combination of a novel cross-shaped key keyboard and a stylus, suggesting the high potential for use of this combination with future mobile IT products.

Design and evaluation of small, linear QWERTY keyboards

Miniature keyboard design is motivated by the need for smaller mobile devices with maximum user display area. Thus, this study developed four miniature keyboard designs which varied from conventional keyboard design in terms of their configuration and layout. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the input speed, accuracy, comfort, likability and learnability of four miniature keyboards. Sixteen fast typists and 16 slow typists were recruited to use these four miniature keyboards. The results showed that the rectangular-shaped keycaps of 3 letters with separated keycaps of numerals obtained the best proficiency speed, highest comfort and greatest user acceptance among the four keyboards. Moreover, the keyboards with square-shaped keycaps had better input accuracy compared to rectangular-shaped keycaps. Finally, the proposed keyboards were smaller than current keyboards, and the performance for all of the small keyboards was worse than that of the conventional keyboard.

How Different Presentation Modes of Graphical Icons Affect Viewers’ First Fixation and Attention

This study aimed to explore how different presentation modes of graphical icons affect the viewer’s attention. The relevant experiment was designed to investigate three main variables: icon composition, polarity, and border. Through permutation and combination, six presentation modes were obtained as follows: line + positive polarity + border (M1), plane + positive polarity + border (M2), line + negative polarity + border (M3), plane + negative polarity + border (M4), line + positive polarity + no border (M5), and plane + positive polarity + no border (M6). Thirty-six participants were required to watch thirty stimuli, or graphical icons, presented concurrently in six abovementioned modes. The number of first fixations was recorded by eye-trackers; meanwhile, subjective evaluation of attention was conducted and analyzed. As indicated by the experimental results, the icons presented in M4 attracted the most attention; in contrast, the icons presented in M5 attracted the least attention. The findings herein can be used as a reference by interface designers while icons are being designed.