Users’ Tactile Interactions With New Product Materials: An Analysis of Depth Impressions Based on Associative Concept Networks

Abstract

Depth impressions are an inward associative layer of the expressed impressions of humans. To analyze tactile interaction, it is essential to examine what users feel and imagine and how they create depth impressions by touching and looking at different materials. On the basis of tactile interactions, this study captures and analyzes users' depth impressions on materials. We propose impressionable new tactile material for design from the viewpoint of depth impressions and emotional engineering. We employed a concept networks-based method to analyze the experimentally obtained verbalized protocols and to identify the depth impressions. We found that the feel of materials' tactile naturalness is related to the depth impressions and concept networks' complexity. The depth impressions and concept network of the proposed micro-print material are distinct and beyond that of existing natural or artificial materials. These findings will help in employing new analysis tools and developing better tactile materials for designing products.

Modelling tactual experience with product materials

“…Materiality has been studied as material understanding and material strategy for design (Vallgårda, 2009). Previous studies have shown that user impressions of materials in tactile interactions depend on the level of user familiarity with the material (Nagai, Georgiev and Taura, 2010). For example, congruence in perceptions may also facilitate processing and contribute to positive evaluations (Van Rompay and Pruyn, 2011).…”

“…People need to touch to know and understand the man-made objects they are manipulating, and ultimately attribute meaning to the objects. The first attempts to penetrate deeper into the topic of tactile experience of product materials show that user impressions depend on how "natural" the material is perceived to be, including how well users are accustomed to it (Nagai, Georgiev and Taura, 2010). Moreover, such impressions are related to material preferences.…”

“…Previous research on tactile interaction with materials provides clues such as materials that are experienced often (or in other words, which users are habituated to) differ in their impressions and evaluations in comparison with new and tactually unknown materials (Nagai, Georgiev and Taura, 2010). Moreover, the constructed meaning of a material depends on factors such as material properties, the product the material is embedded in, how we interact with it, and the context in which the interaction takes place (Karana, 2010).…”

“…These components are central in the construction of a meaning evoking pattern (Karana, 2010). Past experiences, memories, associations and emotions are thought to be critical for the formation of user impression (Nagai, Georgiev and Taura, 2010). Thus, in this research we investigate the formation of user impression in light of previous experiences, memories, associations, and emotions and apply a systematic method in order to investigate them.…”

“…However, a time-experience model of tactile interaction is needed to explain the formation of impressions as an experience providing content to specified concepts. It has already been suggested that past experiences play a major role in user perception and impression (Nagai, Georgiev and Taura, 2010).…”