Output details

How is it for you? (A case for recognising user motivation in the design process)

This research suggests that a novel approach for extending the designers understanding of the user can be found in combining psychological and HCI perspectives. The study examined the users’ emotional response to the design of software in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), the influence it has on their attitudes and expectations of the software and their motivation to use it. Reference to contemporary theories of human motivation and emotion in psychology, adapted for application to the user at the interface, provide a new ‘lens’ through which to examine the user, and to elicit new data to inform the design process. The exploration of underrepresented variables in human-computer interaction establishes the basis for additional tools and measures that can be employed by the designer to assess the success, or otherwise, of the user interface. Findings indicate that the opportunity to manage and capitalise on user interaction in the design process is under-recognised.

The novelty of this output derives from an art and design based approach to the detailed and insightful mapping of a model of human motivation, based in psychology that has been re-applied and tested in the HCI design context. This work seeks to focus on the user response (as a manifestation of the mental processes of perception, cognition and emotion) which has implications for software usability and interface design. The authors focus on the application of (art and design) design methods to the software user interface, to address deficiencies in the dominant (engineering) design paradigm.

The work grew out of the evaluation of a key work package in the £3.5million ERDF project. Funding was provided by Birmingham City Council and Open Computers and Finance, an independent computer vendor.