Attractiveness of Interactive Products

Usability engineering has its roots in work science. For this reason, the primary goals have been in the interests of health and work protection. The usability criteria of the standard DIN EN ISO 9241 part 11 are effectiveness, efficiency, and contentment. However, the importance of positive emotions in response to interactive products, i.e. "joy of use", causes discussions world-wide and a means of encouraging these qualities is being sought.

Should a solution be found it, is important that we understand how positive emotions arise. UID has researched this topic in collaboration with Marc Hassenzahl, a former UID associate who is now working at the University of Koblenz-Landau, Faculty of Psychology. We want to know what factors make an interactive product attractive. The tool for investigation, AttrakDiff™, was developed for the purpose of measuring attractiveness. This tool is available to all, free of charge, at www.attrakdiff.com.