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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Ben BridgensORCiD, Dr Keerthika Balasundaram
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This paper presents the findings of a user-centred design (UCD) study which explored tactile and aesthetic responses to new and artificially aged mobile phone cases made from bamboo, walnut, cork, leather, brushed titanium, plastic and rubber. The paper outlines test methods for accelerated ageing of the external enclosures of consumer electronics based on the types of wear experienced in use, and the use of semantic differential scales (SDS) to probe user attitudes to these materials. The results indicate that preferences for the materials tested were extremely subjective, and even a single participant can have conflicting requirements for the characteristics of the materials (for example, sleek, shiny and easy to grip). Whilst in general participants preferred the new materials and saw the ageing process as negative, there were examples where the aged samples either scored more highly due to durability (titanium) or received positive comments about the aesthetic changes caused by severe ageing (bamboo and leather). This study captured the participants’ immediate, visceral response to the materials, which may be very different to their feelings towards materials and objects that they have owned and interacted with for a period of time.
Author(s): Lilley D, Smalley G, Bridgens BN, Wilson GT, Balasundaram K
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Materials and Design
Year: 2016
Volume: 101
Pages: 355-365
Print publication date: 05/07/2016
Online publication date: 08/04/2016
Acceptance date: 05/04/2016
Date deposited: 11/04/2016
ISSN (print): 0264-1275
ISSN (electronic): 1873-4197
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2016.04.012
DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2016.04.012
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