Toshiki Yamaoka

A proposal of a user-interface index that corresponds with mental model structural elements

The objective of this research is to propose a user-interface design index that corresponds with mental model structural elements. A total of 35 user-interface design indexes were extracted from previous design related rules and design guidelines that pertain to design indexes. Next, the user-interface design indexes were linked to the mental model structural elements and a formal concept analysis was done in order to determine the relationship between them. The mental model structural elements were classified and structured according to human information processing, functional and structural models. Finally, we describe how designers can easily construct user-interface designs based mainly on the user-interface design index and mental model structural elements.

An Evaluation Method of Temporal Change on Mental Model

The mental model of product, system and so on was constructed based on the main information, sub information and related information which were proposed and defined. An evaluation method of mental model can evaluate mental model quantitatively based on the difference between ex-post evaluation and pre-evaluation of mental model using the three information and evaluation items. Structural model and functional model of mental model were also examined from view point of temporal model. The pre-evaluation of mental model was changed into the ex-post evaluation of mental model from view point of temporal change. The effectiveness of the method was validated by four participants. The method was evaluated highly because of constructing mental model corresponding to their feeling or idea. If the structural model and functional model are known or unknown, the combination of two models can show how to design using cues, operation etc.

Which Design Seems Easy to Use? An Analysis of Individual Differences in Mental Models

We investigated whether the influence of age and individual differences in mental model construction level affect the evaluation of appearance and functionality when users select household electrical appliances based only on appearance. Results showed that older (age 66–80) adults emphasized usability more than young (age 20–34) adults did. Moreover, users with high proficiency in mental model construction focused more on usability than did those with less advanced mental models.

How to Construct UX and Story in HCI or Service Design

The three attributions of products, the four stories, the ten feelings and the six experiences are important items in HCI or service design. The three attributions of products: usefulness, usable-ness and desirableness, the four stories: historical story, newest story, fictitious story and actual story, the ten feelings: joy, familiarity, surprising, satisfaction, lovely, longing, expectation, com-fort, interest, impression, experience: experience of obtaining something, unusual experience, experience of getting something after doing tasks, experience of getting convenience, experience of longing for something, experience of feeling through the five senses. These items are integrated into a basic or applied UX-Story system diagram. These relationship are clarified and UX designer or engineer can construct a flame of UX design or service design.

A Proposal of New Interface Based on Natural Phenomena and So on (2)

The purpose of this research is realization of the user interface that is kind to person. We live together with nature. Therefore, it is effective to use natural phenomena for the user-interface. To explore the new user-interface based on natural phenomena and so on, the data of three categories (Accustomed manners friendly, natural phenomenon, Movement, behavior of plants and animals) were gathered by field survey. The gathered data were classified and structured. New user-interface that combines many user-interfaces (picture scroll interface, water lily interface, fish shoal interface, and so on) was constructed. This paper presents the example of four user-interfaces that are selected from collected data.

The Proposal of Quantitative Analysis Method Based on the Method of Observation Engineering

Observation Engineering is the logical method to obtain products requirements. We propose the method to analyze users behavior by Formal Concept Analysis. Users behavior was converted to category data, and peculiarity of users behavior was obtained by FCA. Requirements were got from peculiarity. Finally, Requirements were obtained from their peculiarity, and there were verified by questionnaire.

Extracting the Components of Elderly People's Capacity in Electrical Appliances and Grasping Relationship with the Components

The purpose of this study is to extract the components of capacity which elderly people have in electrical appliances and grasp the relationship with the components. In this research, we interviewed elderly people for the impression and experience of electrical appliances and conducted the tests, for example, card sorting, tasks using digital video camera and so on. We used Boolean algebra with tests data to simplify items. As a result, we found the relationship with the components in electrical appliances.

A method of design improvement with the structured product concept

The product development in service science will become important for manufacturing industry. Therefore, the introduction of the service science concept is necessary in product development. This paper proposes a design improvement method based on HCD (Human Centered Design) concept, which can be introduced to middle/small enterprises, with the structured product concept. A case study of the operation panel design of home security system is discussed in this paper. This method is effective not only in making new products but also in improving developed products. Making a structured product concept is also effective to get consensus among the developers.

Cognitive styles and knowledge of operational procedures of electric appliances

The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between users knowledge of operation procedures for some electric appliances and their cognitive styles. First, questionnaires were given to the participants. The participants answered below questions about cognitive styles. Second, to investigate the participants knowledge of operating procedures of the electric appliances, participants were asked to write free text description on how to use an appliance without actually operating it. We found certain kinds of knowledge about operation procedures were linked to users cognitive style.