The Academic Events Group, 3rd WORLD CONFERENCE on DESIGN, ARTS AND EDUCATION

Font Size: 
Users’ Communication of their Interaction Experiences with Products
Merve Coşkun, Bahar Şener Pedgley

Last modified: 2014-02-16

Abstract


This paper examines the ways that users communicate their interactions with products as part of a wider research looking into the dimensions of users’ positive and negative appraisals of sensorial experiences with products in the context of instrumental interaction. Users’ communication of their interactions with products can be used as a tool to understand the constituents of user-product interaction as a dynamic phenomenon within a user-centered perspective. The fieldwork, consisted of a combination of methods (i.e. observation & shadowing, post-questionnaire, follow-up interview), was carried out by using tea makers and vacuum cleaners as sample products. The content of users’ statements was then analyzed. The paper presents the findings related to content and style of communication from the perspectives of: i) product, ii) user, and iii) interaction. The results indicate that talking directly about our interactions with products is not something that we are used to doing in our daily life; additionally, expressing the richness of interaction experiences solely verbally may not be sufficient. Therefore, users also make use of some indirect ways to express the quality of instrumental interaction, including mimics, gestures, copying sounds. The paper outlines how users communicate their sensorial experiences (verbally, non-verbally) along with discussion over examples.


Conference registration is required in order to view papers.