| Popis: |
Small mobile devices with multipurpose functions are becoming an ergonomic problem and a target for growing critics. Because the literature about suitable design and evaluation methods for addressing the design challenge is scarce, we experimented with a novel approach combining Conjoint Analysis (CA) and Rapid Prototypes (RP). CA is used to determine the most preferred combinations in a multivariable choice situation. Rapid prototyping is a recent technology of computer aided prototype production. We organized a test with mobile phone like RP mock-ups to measure the experienced impact of four design attributes. These were phone width and thickness, and the size and location of the keypad. The tests were run with 28 subjects who compared 16 models to a reference model for the convenience of using the keypad. Our experience was that running the tests was fast and fluent. The results proposed that the size and location of keypad were the most influential variables and, thus, the results can be used to focus the design effort. Some challenges related to specifying the evaluation task and attribute levels still remain, and those will be addressed in the discussion. |
