UID wins Industry Award for "User Centered Innovation"

User Interface Design GmbH (UID) took part in the "INDUSTRIEPREIS der Initiative Mittelstand" (industry award of the MSE initiative) for the first time, promptly winning this award. With "User Centered Innovation", UID left behind its competitors.

Every year, the MSE Initiative looks for innovative products and services. Now, the winner have been determined in 21 categories. As experts for usability, UID beat its competitors in the category of research – with the so-called "User Centered Innovation". This innovation approach is completely geared to the user. "We are especially proud of having beaten 600 competitors with our 'User Centered Innovation'," says Andreas Beu, Manager Industry Solutions.

The user as an impetus for innovations

UID convinced the jury of a service for industry MSEs. Innovations for industrial products are mainly achieved by development and progress of technologies. It is not the user, but functionality, which is in the focus when designing operating panels for plants and machines. Therefore, products are overloaded with functions which do not represent a value added to all users despite their innovative character.

"User Centered Innovation" however counteracts this challenge. Innovations are not geared to what is technically feasible, but consistently to the users of a product. Their requirements, needs and behaviors give the essential impetus to the innovation process and strategy.

Industry Award as a motivation for Research & Innovation

For UID, the Industry Award 2008 represents a confirmation of the commitment in the field of Research & Innovation. To cope with the fast development of human-machine-interaction in research and in practice, UID has geared its work to innovations for more than ten years. Currently, UID participates in the international research project "VAALID – Accessibility and Usability Validation Framework for AAL Interaction Design Process".

The Industry Award 2008 was already awarded for the third time by the MSE Initiative of Huber Verlag für Neue Medien GmbH to the most innovative products and services in the capital goods industry. An independent jury evaluates all solutions submitted according to criteria such as level of innovation and benefit.

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