Melissa S. Jacobson

Product design and emotion: Frameworks, methods, and case studies

Successful product design meets or exceeds the emotional needs of users, beyond utility and quality. Likewise, successful product design applies the knowledge of aesthetics, beyond technologies, features, and ease of use. This Discussion Panel will offer three topics by each speaker to the audience: 1) Framework: What framework(s) describe the world of affective or emotional design of products? 2) Method: What design research method(s) are used to measure emotional reactions to designs? 3) Case Study: What product design(s) exemplify the frameworks, methods, and/or otherwise highlight a successful product design? At the end of the session, attendees will have at least five frameworks, five research methods, and five case studies of exemplary products for inspiration in their work and research.

Organizational Obstacles and Product Design Innovation for a New Fixed-Split Ergonomic Keyboard

Fixed-split, ergonomic keyboards have been shown to reduce awkward wrist postures while maintain typing performance and improve the functional and medical status of those persons with hand pain as well as reduce the likelihood of developing signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome compared to typists using traditional, straight keyboards. Yet, the design can be improved. This paper describes the basic research, inspiration, and participatory design approach as well as the organizational obstacles in creating the new Microsoft® Natural® Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. The ergonomist had to overcome staid thinking in questioning the fundamental assumptions about the ergonomics of keyboard design and to overcome the product design paradigm of only fixing problems from stated and unstated user needs compared with realizing innovative designs that the average user cannot articulate or consider. An iterative design process resulted in a new ergonomic keyboard with a steeper gable angle, a curved key bed, a taller palm rest, and a palm rest lifter for a truly negative slope.