The use of Emotional Design Techniques in user oriented design of interfaces within a smart house environment: Case study

Issue title: Virtual Reality and Disability

Guest editors: Christian Berger-Vachonx, Daniel R. Mestre and Alain Pruskiy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Such, María José^{a; *} | Barberà, Ricard^a | Poveda, Rakel^a | Belda-Lois, Juan-Manuel^a | Gómez, Amelia^a | López, Amparo^a | Cort, José M.^b | Sánchez, Miguel^b

Affiliations: [a] Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV), Valencia, Spain | [b] LARTEC Desarrollos Inteligentes, Spain | [x] University of Lyon, France | [y] Université François-Rabelais de Tours, Laboratoire d'Informatique, Polytech Tours, France

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: IBV is working in the emerging area of Emotional Engineering with application in the development of technology for the user wellness. A first prospective analysis is made in the field of smart house technologies for elderly people focused on clarifying the role of emotions in the interaction user-environment mediated by technology. The study was undertaken with elderly people within the age segment from 40 to 75 years old with no pathology that could affect cognitive processes. As a result, a clear emotional dimension is identified as design barrier that makes smart house environments be understood far from redeeming lack of abilities due to ageing. This paper also highlights the challenge of developing methodological approaches customized for the field of emotional design in interactive products.

Keywords: Smart house, interfaces, user design, emotional engineering, independent living

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2006-18407

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 201-206, 2006