IxD

An important strand of research that is often neglected in the field of affective computing is that of how users respond to simulated displays of emotion. We present an overview of the few studies that have explicitly investigated this space and discuss a number of issues related to simulated emotion research. An overview of our own work in this area is then provided, along with forthcoming studies that we plan to conduct. We conclude with a number of suggestions of where future research in this space should focus.

El dominio del empirismo en la sociedad occidental alteró el significado antiguo de la medida. En el caso del estudio de la relación entre el ser humano y la computadora se considera de forma casi exclusiva parámetros físicos o cuantitativos de la interacción; sin embargo, existen aspectos cualitativos de la experiencia humana que se ven empobrecidos por este tipo de análisis.

Usability is a main quality attribute for any interactive product. Usability in touchscreen-based mobile devices is something essential and should be considered when launching a new product; it could be a distinguishing feature in a rushing market, as it is the one of the mobile devices nowadays. Traditional methods for usability measuring do not really fit the nature of these devices. There is a need for new usability evaluation methods or at least for the use of traditional evaluations in novel ways. A set of specific usability heuristics for touchscreen-based mobile devices is proposed and (preliminary) validated.

At a recent technology Meetup in San Francisco (which I attended with a friend exclusively for the free doughnuts, but of course), I learned that many aspiring product designers (people in software, in fashion, in real estate, and everyone in-between) would love to explore careers in Product Management but don’t know where to start. This is a natural trend of thought among progressive thinkers in many disciplines, including the IT specifically: those who have mastered a singe technical domain often want to broaden their career horizons by applying their talents and experience in a strategic context, which is in fact how many good product managers are born. In this discussion, I offer my personal insight into the science of Product Management, as well as an extensive list of resources for those who aspire to become product managers.

The question of interactivity in technical commu-nication is complex. First, building interactive technical documents means relinquishing some amount of control over authorship, readership, and document presentation, each of which can be frightening for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the uncertainty involved in this process. Second, interactivity in technical documentation must also compete with interactivity in entertainment, a moving industry target with billions of R&D dollars invested each year.

The question of how and why people adopt technologies is an area that has received great scrutiny, but less attention is given to those who willingly choose to avoid particular technologies. This article considers current models of technology adoption and explores how technology influences us as a society and individually, paying special attention to how large-scale shifts in technological change come to bear on individuals who choose not to adopt specific technologies. By combining scholarship in the information sciences with observations from media ecology theorists, this article proposes a more nuanced view of technology adoption and resistance.

Ambiguity is usually considered anathema in Human Computer Interaction. We argue, in contrast, that it is a resource for design that can be used to encourage close personal engagement with systems. We illustrate this with examples from contemporary arts and design practice, and distinguish three broad classes of ambiguity according to where they are located in the interpretative relationship linking person and artefact. Ambiguity of information finds its source in the artefact itself, ambiguity of context in the sociocultural discourses that are used to interpret it, and ambiguity of relationship in the interpretative and evaluative stance of the individual. For each of these categories, we describe tactics for emphasising ambiguity that may help designers and other practitioners understand and craft its use.

""As map-based visualizations of documents become more ubiquitous, there is a greater need for them to support intellectual and creative high-level cognitive activities with collections of non-cartographic materials — documents. This dissertation concerns the conceptualization of map-based visualizations as tools for sensemaking and collection understanding. As such, map-based visualizations would help people use georeferenced documents to develop understanding, gain insight, discover knowledge, and construct meaning.

This dissertation explores the role of graphical representations (such as maps, Kohonen maps, pie charts, and other) and interactions with them for developing map-based visualizations capable of facilitating sensemaking activities such as collection understanding. While graphical representations make document collections more perceptually and cognitively accessible, interactions allow users to adapt representations to users’ contextual needs. By interacting with representations of documents or collections and being able to construct representations of their own, people are better able to make sense of information, comprehend complex structures, and integrate new information into their existing mental models. In sum, representations and interactions may reduce cognitive load and consequently expedite the overall time necessary for completion of sensemaking activities, which typically take much time to accomplish.

The dissertation proceeds in three phases. The first phase develops a conceptual framework for translating ontological properties of collections to representations and for supporting visual tasks by means of graphical representations. The second phase concerns the cognitive benefits of interaction. It conceptualizes how interactions can help people during complex sensemaking activities. Although the interactions are explained on the example of a prototype built with Google Maps, they are independent of Google Maps and can be applicable to various other technologies. The third phase evaluates the utility, analytical capabilities and usability of the additional representations when users interact with a visualization prototype – VIsual COLlection EXplorer. The findings suggest that additional representations can enhance understanding of map-based visualizations of library collections: specifically, they can allow users to see trends, gaps, and patterns in ontological properties of collections.""

The newer version of VICOLEX is available at: http://abuchel.physics.uwo.ca/~obuchel/VICOLEX/map4.php

Borrador de capítulo para el libro "La Interacción Humano-Computadora en México", editado por J. Muñoz, J. M. González y J. A. Sánchez. Editorial Pearson, México.

Detalles sobre el capítulo:
* Presenta 10 fundamentos relacionados con el diseño visual de interfaces de usuario.

* Presenta un marco de trabajo orientado al diseño para estudiantes de Diseño de Interacción Humano-Computadora.

* Incluye ejercicios para estudiantes enfocados en diseño visual que estudiantes de Computación e Ingeniería de Software pueden usar, pero también pueden ser usados en programas en departamentos académicos de diseño.

Purpose – The underlying objective of this literature review was to investigate what kinds of semiotics researches have been employed in user interfaces design and usability evaluation, and how were they employed.

Design/methodology/approach – This research follows a systematic literature review process that consists of three key stages: planning the review, conducting the review, and reporting the review. Starting with an initial set of about 1,000 research articles, 65 were selected for this review, using an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Qualitative and quantitative data were extracted from the selected literatures following a data extraction strategy in six themes of data extraction. The extracted data were synthesized to formulate the stated research questions to obtain the review goals.

Findings – This systematic review identified research strengths, gaps, and challenges. Apart from this, further research possibilities were also explored in this review. For research, the review showed clear needs for more researches to increase both the number and the quality of studies that can be focused on the research gaps identified by this systematic review related to: outcome validation; cultural issues consideration; user interfaces of mobile applications and websites; semiotics perception in usability evaluation; and further improve the value and applicability of research ideas. For practice, the review showed the significance of semeiotics in user interface design and usability evaluation to develop users' intuitive interfaces for boosting the system's usability.

Originality/value – Based on a systematic literature review, the paper not only depicts the current status of semiotics research in user interface design and evaluation, but also provides a number of implications for research and practice. Thus, the review contributes to the scientific community of user interface design and evaluation, as well as suggesting the actual advances in the state of the practice in semiotics research on user interface.

Presentación de capítulo para el libro "La Interacción Humano-Computadora en México", editado por J. Muñoz, J. M. González y J. A. Sánchez. Pearson, México.

Detalles sobre el capítulo:
* Presenta 10 fundamentos relacionados con el diseño visual de interfaces de usuario.
* Presenta un marco de trabajo orientado al diseño para estudiantes de Diseño de Interacción Humano-Computadora.
* Incluye ejercicios para estudiantes enfocados en diseño visual que estudiantes de Computación e Ingeniería de Software pueden usar, pero también pueden ser usados en programas en departamentos académicos de diseño.

Today, Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) play a key role in spatial information sharing. Since their beginning, SDIs undertook tremendous changes. Product-based (first-generation)models evolved to process-based (second-generation) SDI models. Now we face shift to user-centric, third-generation SDI. Compared to former SDI concepts, the development of third-generation SDI is increasingly driven by users. Within the framework of the EU project Nature-SDIplus, we proposed the application of the interdisciplinary and wide-ranging concept of usability relating to commonly known software development processes as solution to design a user-centric SDI. Based on the results of a Europe-wide user survey, the status quo on nature conservation’s spatial data use was described, user requirements were specified,target user groups of a domain specific SDI were identified, and recommendations made to contribute to user-centric Nature-SDI.

Morozov's history of the present purports to be targeting Silicon Valley, but the book is in fact a comprehensive criticism of the role of digital systems design. From this perspective, the book offers interesting perspectives on design's role in aspirations of technological perfectability. However, the concluding recommendations are too dialectical.

As electric vehicles are moving in on the automobile market, safety relating to acoustic perception is an important issue. It is a growing concern, particularly with respect to pedestrians, cyclists or visually impaired people. This can be addressed by adding sounds to the vehicle whilst at low speed. However, adding artificial sounds to an electric vehicle begs the question as to what kind of sound is appropriate. Appropriateness concerns technical specifications and is also linked to affective reactions of recipients of such a sound. Emotional reactions to 17 artificial exterior sounds for electric vehicles were investigated in an experimental setting with a total of 40 participants, 34 novice users and six sound experts.

Multi-touch tables are increasingly being used in public spaces such as museums, art galleries, and libraries to help engage the public and provide access to collections. Design- ing applications for this type of environment where a wide variety of people can use the table raises unique interaction issues that need to be addressed. This chapter initially provides a detailed review of research studies that have investigated the impact of multi-touch tables in cultural heritage environments. A case study into the design of a touch table application for The Hive (the first integrated public/university library and history centre in Europe) is then presented where we highlight issues experienced and lessons learned during the development process. In particular, we cover requirements gathering, design approaches used, the selection of appropriate content (for a broad user base), installation and maintenance of a table, and details of an initial informal evaluation.

El fenómeno de las redes sociales comienza a generar investigaciones diversas, pero de momento ninguna ha planteado las relaciones entre los usuarios de una red social desde el punto de vista conductual y psicológico. A tal efecto, hemos llevado a cabo un estudio empírico a partir de una simulación de perfiles en Facebook, red social de referencia por la cantidad de usuarios disponibles y por su salida a bolsa. A partir de perfiles imaginarios, analizamos la tipología de otros usuarios de Facebook que se le agregan, lo que puede inspirar estrategias de comercio electrónico vinculadas a los periódicos digitales.

El análisis del tipo de uso de la interactividad y el multimedia permite diagnosticar la evolución en el modus operandi del ciberperiodismo. Los principales periódicos digitales internacionales incorporan herramientas propias del web 2.0, pero no abundan los estudios empíricos comparativos entre ellos. En esta investigación se recogen los resultados de incorporación de interactividad (proporción de unidades de contenido dotadas de interactividad mediante comentarios en el foro, piezas con interactividad simétrica o asimétrica) en las versiones digitales de los periódicos Daily Mirror y The Sun (Reino Unido) y El País y La Vanguardia (España). La muestra recoge las inclusiones multimedia (audio, video, audiovisual). Se percibe un uso intensivo de la interactividad en el foro, un cultivo simbólico de la interactividad simétrica y asimétrica y una inclusión moderada de los recursos multimedia analizados.

In this keynote presentation, I critically reflect on what interactive music is about and how it has developed in recent years. Among interactive music, I include what is often called Interactive (Computer) Music, Interactive Gesture Music (IGM) or ‘gesture controlled’ music, ‘multimodal’ (interaction) environments (MEs) and live electronics. Central to my argument are two small case studies of interactive music performances that share some features in gestural control and composition through, but are also very different in many ways: Swiss interactive vocal performer, singer and sound artist Franziska Baumann’s Electric Renaissance and German singer and composer Alex Nowitz’s Studies for Selfportrait. Rather than discussing these clips at great length, I would rather focus on the theoretical underpinnings of my own considerations regarding these performances, particularly with regard to related issues of interactive music technology, which have an inherent social interest.

In the past decade researchers of human-computer interaction and other related fields have expanded their investigation from studying the usability of information technology to studying users’ experiences with it. This more holistic approach is driven by a growing number of empirical findings that demonstrated the stable suboptimal use of interactive artifacts and subsequent criticism on the concept of usability. This paper takes the position that research into user experience and interaction design would benefit from investigating the quality of interaction itself as it is experienced by users during technology use. A research agenda is introduced outlining an approach to investigate interaction quality along with possible measures to inform interaction design.

Abstract Recent research has suggested that affective embodied agents that can effectively express simulated emotion have the potential to build and maintain long-term relationships with users. We present our experiences in this space and detail the wide array of design and evaluation issues we had to take into consideration when building an affective embodied agent that assists users with improving poor dietary habits. An overview of our experimental progress is also provided.

Embodied agents have received large amounts of interest in recent years. They are often equipped with the ability to express emotion,but without understanding the impact this can have on the user. Given the amount of research studies that are utilising agent technologywith affective capabilities, now is an important time to review the influence of synthetic agent emotion on user attitudes, perceptions andbehaviour. We therefore present a structured overview of the research into emotional simulation in agents, providing a summary of themain studies, re-formulating appropriate results in terms of the emotional effects demonstrated, and an in-depth analysis illustrating thesimilarities and inconsistencies between different experiments across a variety of different domains. We highlight important lessons,future areas for research, and provide a set of guidelines for conducting further research

"Whilst at the Universities of Bristol and the West of England, in collaboration with BBC R&D, I have been responsible for the first higher dynamic range, higher resolution and higher frame rate experiments to measure which combination of these developing parameters of image capture and display best engages the audience. What is essentially happening here is the mapping of the capabilities of imaging equipment to the sensory levels of the eye/brain pathway.

We now have greater enhancements to our computational abilities that allow us to uplevel the parameters we are testing and more importantly, this increase in itself speaks of what is to come. Our tests have revealed the creation of a sense of depth, without sensory tricks.

But trying to predict where technical and aesthetic developments will lead us does a disservice to the subject area. To more fully explore the importance of these developments, in this paper I attempt to explore the narrative that underlies Cognitive Neuroscience as a descriptor that may reveal the nature of that which looks, as being as important as that which is looked at.""

Purpose
This study aims to identify, collect and critical review the research literature on Multilingual Digital Libraries in English language from 1997 to 2012.

Design/methodology/approach
The present literature review has followed the rules of systematic review. In particular, the identified relevant papers were categorized based on their expressed aim on two core themes, that of system-centered and user-centered studies. The assigned papers were further analyzed and six sub-themes emerged for the system-centered studies and four for the user-centered studies. Additional categorization was also provided according to type of publication.

Findings
The literature concerning Multilingual Digital Libraries is vast and mainly focuses on two aspects the “System” and the “Users”. The majority of papers tried to meet the challenges raised for enabling multilingual information retrieval in Digital Libraries. Unfortunately, these efforts undertaken by a small number of researchers or research groups apparently working in isolation and therefore resulting in the development of numerous different tools and techniques. Relatively few studies have focused on the user and aimed to explore users' behavior and expectations when interacting with Multilingual Digital Libraries. As a result, further research is needed to reach to some tangible and usable findings.

Originality/value
This literature review captures the diversity of the research conducted regarding multilingual information access and retrieval in Digital Libraries. It organizes the vast literature in comprehensive themes and sub-themes enabling easy access to specific information.

Limitations
This study reviews only papers in English due to language restrictions from 1997 to 2012.

We introduce a new multi-touch table “shoaling” application that we have been working on with the new Library of Birmingham (UK). This application contains shoals of assets taken from the Library’s collections that flock and swim around the tabletop. The assets are initially represented as small circular crops taken from full-size assets that attempt to intrigue and draw users in to explore further. These cropped circles can then be selected by visitors and expanded to reveal the surprise of the full asset. In this paper, we provide an overview of the shoaling application and share the design considerations that had to be taken into account when attempting to create a shared and collaborative visitor experience.

"Interactive multi-touch screens in museums are often used for a dual purpose: to both educate and entertain visitors. With this in mind, how can the sense of ‘delight’ in the use of a multi-touch screen in a museum be explained? What kinds of ‘delight’ may visitors experience, and why? A case study was enacted in April 2012 on One Road, an interactive multi-touch installation in the ‘Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route’ exhibition at the Australian Museum, Sydney. The study aimed to investigate user experiences of the interactive, and a range of different behaviours were observed. A discussion of the findings with reference to the concept of ‘delight’ in interface design examined how different aged visitors appeared to find ‘delight’ in different entertaining and educational features of One Road, and questioned whether entertainment-focused ‘delight’ was positive or negative. These considerations are important for interface designers. With further research, we may come to better understand and continue to investigate how an interface design on a multi-touch surface in a museum can be ‘delightful’, and influence users’ experiences.

Keywords:
Multi-touch interface, user experiences, interactive applications, human-computer interaction, case study"

This study compares a traditional 3D WIMP (Window Icon Menu Pointer) modeller to a prototype of a novel system with a 6DOF haptic feedback device, stereovision and a co-located display, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. The novel system was conceived to ...

In the past decade researchers of human-computer interaction and other related fields have expanded their investigation from studying the usability of information technology to studying users’ experiences with it. This more holistic approach is driven by a growing number of empirical findings that demonstrated the stable suboptimal use of interactive artifacts and subsequent criticism on the concept of usability. This paper takes the position that research into user experience and interaction design would benefit from investigating the quality of interaction itself as it is experienced by users during technology use. A research agenda is introduced outlining an approach to investigate interaction quality along with possible measures to inform interaction design.

Morris was the associate editor. Ron Thompson served as a reviewer. Two additional reviewers chose to remain anonymous. companies that provide customer DSS on their websites, especially the danger of providing too many product choice options that can overwhelm customers and harm their shopping experience.

Usability defects test escapee can have a negative impact on the success of software. It is quite common for projects to have a tight timeline. For these projects, it is crucial to ensure there are effective processes in place. One way to ensure project success is to improve the manual processes of the usability inspection via automation. An automated usability tool will enable the evaluator to reduce manual processes and focus on capturing more defects in a shorter period of time. Thus improving the effectiveness of the usability inspection and minimizing defects escapee. There exist many usability testing and inspection methods. The scope of this paper is on the Heuristic Evaluation (HE) procedures automation. The Usability Management System (UMS) was developed to automate as many manual steps as possible throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC). It is important for the various teams within the organization to understand the benefits of automation. The results show that with the help of automation more usability defects can be detected. Hence, enhancing the effectiveness of usability evaluation by an automated Heuristic Evaluation System is feasible.

Multi-touch tables can help facilitate and improve collaborative interactions yet many users with physical disabilities (e.g. wheelchair users) find it extremely difficult to interact with large tables. This paper presents work-in-progress that is exploring the potential to enhance multi-touch table accessibility to enable disabled users to participate more effectively in collaborative interactions. An overview of a prototype that allows disabled users to manipulate digital content via mid-air finger gestures is provided along with details of upcoming research studies we will be conducting.

"Web-distributed tools that complement community-based environmental monitoring (CBEM) initiatives can improve processing of and access to information, supporting environmental education and better informing decision-making. To this end a web-based geographic information system known as “Juturna” was developed to support CBEM in the vicinity of Toronto, Canada. This web-GIS facilitates input, analysis, and reporting of community data. However, use of the system steadily declined in activity since this initiative started in 2004. Lay users reported that the system was complicated and confusing, and so discouraged use. Also, it employed expensive proprietary software, which was a disincentive for the local Conservation Authority and collaborating NGO to adopt the system.

To revitalize use of the website and provide support to the CBEM program, we undertook to redesign the web-GIS using open source software. To understand why the original web-GIS was not well used and to inform redesign of the system, we implemented a user-centered design methodology. Methods included user testing, rapid prototyping and stakeholder interviews. The process was invaluable in prioritizing user tasks, defining characteristics of users of the website, and identifying those components of the web-GIS most confounding to them. Findings were used to inform re-development of the web-GIS through an iterative process that led to the creation of two prototypes that were evaluated by the user audience and so informed the design of a new (more accessible) website."