IOP Integral
ProductCreation and
-Realisation
Resolving the Paradox (RePar)
Prototyping methods and tools
Developers of interactive products or systems would rather have user
input from the very start of the design process. But so early on, users
find it hard to imagine how the product will actually work. Drawings
and simple simulations give too little information, yet advanced
prototypes only come much later. PhD students at the Eindhoven
University of Technology (TU/e) and Twente University are developing
prototyping methods and tools to fill this gap.
‘Designers are eager to gear products to user needs. They would
prefer to get feedback on a working prototype or product. But as
that is complicated and costly, they get it in the final phase of the
design process,’ explains project manager Jacques Terken of
Eindhoven University of Technology. ‘By then, however, they have
already made various design decisions without having consulted
any users. Ideally you’d like to have user feedback in every phase of
the development process. That is hard when the simple prototypes
you use are insufficiently realistic.’
Configuring prototypes
The IOP project entitled Resolving the Paradox in User-centred
Design through Flexible Prototyping (RePar) aims at developing two
kinds of tools that will allow designers to make simple prototypes
more realistic. Those will come with guidelines to ensure their
optimal use in the dialogue with users. ‘With the first kind of tool,
we want to make preliminary computer sketches of a product
interactive. That way, users could try out the functionality of certain
buttons, for example,’ Terken explains. The existing techniques are
too inflexible or too complicated for the designer to program.
‘It all needs to be more flexible and easier to accomplish,’ according
to the project manager. Indeed, that is the rationale for the new
tools, which will be part of a framework to which other techniques
can be added. The second type of tool focuses on a later stage in the
design process. To allow users to experience how a yet-to-be­manufactured product will behave in a simulated but as realistic as
possible context, the functionality of the virtual reality environment
at Twente University will be expanded. ‘The great thing about this
environment is that the end user can configure prototypes based on
previously identified options. He can determine for himself what is
important and experience the effects by continually configuring
new prototypes and testing them in a realistic context.’
Generic tools
RePar is a collaboration between PhD students from Eindhoven
University of Technology and Twente University. Project manager
Terken considers this a logical match. ‘Twente has ample experience
with virtual reality in ­combination with user-centred design, while at
Eindhoven we have a lot of expertise on how common tools are used.’
In the project, a computer scientist and an industrial designer will
focus primarily on developing the tools, while the third PhD student,
with a background in either cognitive psychology or ergonomics, will
formulate user guidelines. ‘With concrete business cases, they will be
able to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques and tools that they will develop for a variety of products,’ Terken
says. ‘The companies will provide them with solid feedback and
relevant requirements. And developing multiple cases for different
sectors means that the tools you develop will be as generic as possible.’
Innovation
DAF Trucks is one of four companies that make up the inner circle
of the RePar project. Jack Martens, project manager at DAF Trucks,
explains his company’s involvement: ‘Lorry cabins are equipped
with an increasing number of advanced systems meant to warn the
driver of any number of dangers, from overheated cooling water to
the presence of a cyclist in one’s blind spot. But you mustn’t
overload drivers with information. You need to consider carefully
how the information is presented. Besides things like head-up
displays and audio signals, we are also looking at haptic feedback
such as vibrating seats or steering wheels.’ Testing such tools in
practice proves difficult, however. Designers often take their own
preferences for granted early on in the design process, so by the
time the test drivers hit the road, the most important choices have
already been made. ‘That makes it tough to try out truly innovative
ways of interacting with the driver. This IOP project is interesting
because it enables this type of testing.’ Martens hopes the tools will
be in use at the Technology Centre at DAF Trucks within a few years.
‘The tools that will be developed in this project will make us even
more innovative.’
Subject:
Prototyping methods and
tools for gathering user
feedback at various stages in
the design process
Objective:
To create tools for rapid and
flexible prototyping and to
develop methods and
guidelines for obtaining
valuable user feedback, even
at an early stage
Possible application:
During the design process of
a broad range of interactive
systems for companies and
consumers
Number of researchers:
Three PhD students
Research institutes:
Eindhoven University of
Technology, Twente
University
Project manager:
Dr. Jacques Terken
T +31 (0) 40 247 52 54
E [email protected]
www.repar-project.org
Industry involved:
DAF Trucks, GreenDino,
Océ Technologies,
Philips Research, Rademaker,
TomTom, Vodafone
Research period:
October 2009 - March 2013
This is a publication of:
NL Agency
NL Innovation
Juliana van Stolberglaan 3
P.O. Box 93144
2509 AC The Hague | The Netherlands
T +31 (0) 88 602 54 96
E [email protected]
www.agentschapnl.nl/iopicpr
Information about IOP IPCR:
Ir. drs. Michiel de Boer
T +31 (0) 88 602 54 65
E [email protected]
© NL Agency | July 2010
Publication: 3IPCR1010
NL Agency is a department of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
that implements government policy for sustainability, innovation, and
international business and cooperation. It is the contact point for
businesses, educational institutions and government bodies for
information and advice, financing, networking and regulatory matters.
The division NL Innovation helps Dutch businesses to innovate, by
providing finance, advice and contacts.
The IOP Integral Product Creation and -Realisation (IOP IPCR)
supports development of generic methods and tools for developers
in the high-tech manufacturing industry. The emphasis is on highly
innovative, complex products.
Innovation-oriented research programmes
The Dutch government aims to make the research world more
accessible to industry and to improve and intensify contacts between
the business community and the research world. The innovationoriented research programmes (IOPs) subsidise innovation-oriented
technological research projects within specific themes at universities,
(non-profit) research institutes and companies that fulfill the
long-term needs of industry in the Netherlands.