The purpose of this thesis was to contribute to our knowledge of what haptics can bring to the table as a human-computer interface rendering technique, which other rendering techniques cannot. An experiment was set up in which a multi-interfaced game was used to convey an information structure to interface users. Each of the game’s three user interfaces utilized one of three different rendering techniques: haptic rendering, graphic rendering, and graphic-haptic rendering. The capacity of each rendering technique to represent the information structure was assessed in terms of the effect of the corresponding interface on three aspects of the user interaction: user performance, user satisfaction and system usability. The result indicated that user performance benefitted from a graphic or graphic-haptic rendering over a haptic rendering. There were no differences between the rendering techniques with regards to the overall user satisfaction. However, there were notable differences on the user satisfaction metric subscale level. The haptic rendering required higher attentive effort than other renderings. Also, the graphic rendering better facilitated the perception of having clear goals and feedback. The results also suggested that the overall system usability benefitted from a graphic or graphic-haptic rendering over a haptic rendering.

Many people in the world today own a smartphone. Smartphones of today usually have an advanced array of inputs in forms of tilting, touching and speaking, and outputs in forms of visual representation on the screen, vibration of the smartphone and speakers for sound. They also usually have different kinds of connectivity in forms of WLAN, Bluetooth and USB. Despite this we are still not seeing a lot of interaction between computers and smartphones, especially within games. We believe that the high presence of smartphones amongst people combined with the advanced inputs and outputs of the smartphone and the connectivity possibilities makes the smartphone a very viable option to be used as a game controller for the PC. We experimented with this developing the underlying architecture for the smartphone to communicate with the PC. Three different games were developed that users tested to see if the smartphone’s inputs are good enough to make it suitable for such purpose. We also attempted to find out if doing this made the gaming experience better, or in other words increased the enjoyment, of a PC game. The phone was suitable to be used as a game controller for the first two types of game, the space-racing game and the puzzle game, as our results shows in both terms of enjoyment and in terms of quality of the technical features of the phone such as accuracy and response time. The third game (First Person Shooter) however was better suited to be used with a keyboard and mouse, which our results shows in terms of both reduced enjoyment and complaints about response time of the phone. / Många människor äger idag en smarttelefon. Dagens smarttelefoner har oftast en mängd avancerade intag av data i form av lutning, pekskärm och mikrofon, och ut data i form av visuell representation på skrämen, vibration av telefonen samt högtalare för ljud. De har oftast också olika sorters anslutningar i form av WLAN, Bluetooth och USB. Trots detta så ser vi fortfarande inte särskillt mycket interaktion mellan datorer och smarttelefoner, speciellt inom spel. Vi tror att den höga förekomsten av smarttelefoner hos människor kombinerat med de avancerade in och ut data av smarttelefonen och anslutningsmöjligheterna gör smarttelefonen en bra kandidat till att användas som spelkontroll för datorer. Vi experimenterade med detta genom att utveckla den underliggande arkitekturen för kommunikationen mellan smarttelefonen och datorn. Vi utvecklade även tre olika spel som vi lät användare testa för att se om smarttelefonens intag av data är tillräckligt bra för att göra den användbar för ett sådant ändamål. Vi försökte även ta reda på om detta gjorde spelupplevelsen bättre, eller med andra ord om det var roligare att spela med hjälp av smarttelefonen. Smarttelefonen var lämplig för att användas som spelkontroll i de två första typen av spel som vi testade med, ett rymd-racing spel och ett puzzle spel, vilken kan ses i vårt resultat både när det gäller spelgäldje och kvaliten på de tekniska funktionerna av telefonen, som precision och responstid. Det tredje spelet (Första Persons Skjutare) var däremot bättre lämpat att spela med tangentbord och mus, vilket vårt resultat visar i form av minskad spelglädje och klagomål om responstiden med telefonen.

Every child is born a scientist, with curiosity to explore the environment through experimentation. However, in practice, science education still very focuses on transmitting facts instead of encouraging personal exploration. Conducting science exploration in a classroom can be complicated for kids and limited by safety, money and laboratory infrastructure. But what if we could create a middle ground between science and fiction, a world where kids discover and experiment in ways that could be impossible in real life but still true to science? This project is to design an imaginative and accessible tool to help kids develop a scientific mindset and practice through play. Wonder-LAND is a mixed reality book system that empowers kids to discover the unseen and experiment the impossible through play. The system combines AR and VR technology with various traditional paper-based mechanisms from pop-up book, cut-out toys and movable cards to bring a world alive. In such way, kids can interact with the tangible material, paper, to unlock amazing 3D virtual phenomena. They can discover things that are not visible to the naked eyes through metaphorical paper tools. And they can also conduct experiments that are impossible in reality by creating their own universe and controlling parameters in simulation. And those playful interactions spark their curiosity and passion for more scientific exploration.

Mobile technology is developing quickly and becomming a part of daily life and communication. Bluetooth Low Energy is presented as a new way of mobile interaction. However there are not enough studies in this field on the interaction between mobile devices and the physical world. In order to understand user needs, and to encourage users to interact, we simulated an interaction process through designing and testing a prototype in a specific indoor environment. Prototype effectiveness and main characteristics for future mobile application was evaluated through a qualitative user study with 20 participants who interacted with our prototype. / Den mobila tekniken växer snabbt och blir en del av våra liv och vår kommunikation. BLE presenteras på ett nytt sätt inom mobilinteraktion. Det förekommer inte tillräckligt med studier inom området för interaktionen mellan mobila enheter och den fysiska världen. För att förstå användarbehov och få användare att interagera har vi simulerat en interaktiv process genom att designa och testa en prototyp i en specifik inomhusmiljö. Utvärdering av prototypens effektivitet och heuristiken har evaluerats genom en kvalitativ studie med 20 användare som har deltagit i interaktionen med vår prototyp.

Implementeringen av tredje generationens mobila nät (3G) har lett till att nya användningsområden skapats inom mobila tjänster. Bandbreddens ökade kapacitet gör det nu möjligt att skicka betydligt större mängder information än i tidigare mobila nät. Detta har även medfört att nya tjänster skapats för 3G-mobiltelefoner. Ett område under utveckling är mobil turistinformation. Mobila Guiden är en mobil turistapplikation som TelecomCity i Karlskrona tagit fram. Det är en guide över världsarvet i staden som presenteras på en 3G-mobitelefon. Användarna får en karta över Karlskrona centrum med olika besökspunkter som innehåller information i form av text, bilder och ljud. Det finns dock vissa problem när det gäller mobiltelefoner. Den förhållandevis lilla skärm som de har gör informationspresentationen komplicerad. Det är svårt att designa program som tillfredsställer användarna. Inom databranschen har Human Computer Interaction och andra områden inom gränssnittsdesign studerats men när det gäller de betydligt mindre skärmar som en mobiltelefon har så är forskningen inte lika långt framskriden Syftet med detta arbete är att utifrån ett användarperspektiv analysera och identifiera hur en mobil applikation för 3G-nätet som presenterar turistinformation bör designas för att intressera och tilltala användaren. Fokus ligger på att applikationer av denna art i framtiden skall tilltala ett brett användarkollektiv. Resultatet av vårt arbete skall ge normativ kunskap och ses som ett vetenskapligt bidrag i utvecklingen av framtidens informationspresentation i mobila nät. Studien påbörjades med en genomgång av befintlig litteratur. Sedan genomfördes en fallstudie med kvalitativa intervjuer för projektet Mobila Guiden i Karlskrona samt en fokus-gruppsdiskussion. Vi använde sedan en avslutande surveyundersökning för att få kvantitativa åsikter om gränssnittet i applikationen. Utfallen från intervjuer, fokusgrupp och surveyundersökningen analyserades sedan i förhållande till utvald teori. En mobil turistapplikation måste presentera ett brett informationsutbud som exempelvis en karta med sevärdheter, mat, boende och evenemang för att tillfredsställa användarna. Användbarheten bör vara av sådan art att det skapas en dialog mellan applikation och användare. Användaren måste även få feedback och information om hur programmet används. Färgvalen bör också noga beaktas då tydlighet är ett måste på en liten skärm. Individuella inställningar för bildspel, textstorlek och ljud bör finnas tillgängliga. För att användarna ska vara nöjda med applikationen bör också helhetskvalitén runt tjänsten vara tillfredsställande. / The implementation of the third generation of mobile networks (3G) has led to a creation of new areas of use within mobile services. Increased capacity of the bandwidth has made it possible to send a considerable amount more data than in the predecessors of 3G. It has also led to new services within 3G. One area which is under development is mobile tourism information. Mobila Guiden is a mobile tourismapplication which TelecomCity, Karlskrona, has developed. It is a guide over the world heritage in the city which is presented on a 3G mobile phone. The user is presented with a map over Karlskrona City on a mobile phone with different points of interest. These points include information in the form of text, pictures and sound about the object. Certain negative aspects regarding mobile phones surface under the discussion. The screens on mobile phones are relatively small which makes information presentation complicated. It is hard to design the user interface for applications so that the users becomes satisfied. Within the computer industry, Human Computer Interaction and other areas concerning user interface has been studied, but when it comes to the small screens of mobile phones the research is not that widespread. The aim of this report is that from a user perspective, analyze and identify how a mobile application for the 3G-network that presents tourism information should be designed to satisfy user needs. We focus on that applications of this kind in the future should appeal to a broad customer base. The result of this report will give normative knowledge and be regarded as an academic contribution in the future development of information presentation in mobile networks. Our investigation began with a study regarding existing literature. Thereafter a case study with qualitative interviews relating to Mobila Guiden in Karlskrona took place along with a focus group meeting later on. We finally used a survey to get quantitative data regarding opinions of the user interface of the application. The results of the empirical study were then analyzed in relation to appropriate theories. A mobile tourism application must present a broad range of information to satisfy the users, for example: a map with sights worth seeing, restaurants, hotels and happenings. The usability should consist of the creation of a dialogue between the application and the user. The user must receive feedback and information on how to use the application. The choice of colour should be taken under consideration since the screen size makes it imperative that the user interface is clear and easy to understand. It should also be possible to make individual adjustments regarding the speed of a picture slideshow, font size and sound.

The question of the relationship between, and the importance of usability and aesthetics, in the field of user interface design, has been debated back and forth. It has also been looked at from different perspectives since Raskin (1994) wrote his article on intuitive design. Several experiments have also been conducted over the last twenty years to find out exactly how much each factor matter, what the ultimate user preference is, and if it can be stereotyped. The more complex part of the discussion, however, seems to be the definitions: exactly what is aesthetics, what is usability and how do they affect each other? To find out, I explored the context of these factors from multiple perspectives, to draw the larger conclusions about what affects what. How accurate is the concept of halo when it comes to interface design; can a less aesthetic interface discourage users from exploring its content? Moreover, can a highly usable interface convince its users that the web page is also aesthetically pleasing? In this paper I will explain the ideas of aesthetic and intuitive design based on two fields of study; human computer interaction design and interaction design. That is in the pursuance of understanding user preference and the design decisions behind one of the most popular interfaces on the internet today.

Google Glass is a new personal computing device that employs an over-eyetransparent display together with voice-control in order to offer audiovisual informationto the device's users. Glass is also a new mediated-reality platform,fundamentally different from common computers and smartphones, and theavailable Glass application (Glassware) design guides do not fully cover human-computer interaction issues that are imposed by Glass' characteristics – issuessuch as optimum information density, use of colourization and positioningto separate information, optimum amount of discrete entities on display, and theuse of iconography. By combining existing guidelines for Glassware UI designwith past research on human-computer interaction and psychology, those issuescan be addressed and can lead to additional design principles. To evaluate theefficacy of such combinations within the technical and design limitations imposedby Google Glass, a set of UI mock-ups for fictional Glassware is createdand used in multiple surveys to acquire data on human response to those combinedfactors. During the study, it was determined that factors including colourization,element positioning and use of icons have a definite effect on user perceptionand preferences, whilst factors related to information density andamount of discrete entities on screen are less relevant. Additionally, supportingevidence was found in relation to the assumption that utility is more importantthan functionless aesthetics. As a result, a UI design guideline set was formulatedthat can be used to supplement existing UI design guidelines for GoogleGlass and similar over-eye transparent-screen devices.

Denna kandidatuppsats undersöker hur user experience kan främjas i ett adaptivt talbaserat system i en fordonskontext. Att undersöka och involvera user experiencei adaptiva talbaserade system är i synnerhet viktigt i denna kontext då den primära sysslan, att köra, bör störas så lite som möjligt. Ett adaptivt system ger möjlighet att effektivisera interaktion och ett talbaserat system låter föraren fokusera på trafiken.Genom att undersöka existerande teori och utföra empiriska undersökningar i form av användartester genom Wizard of Oz-tekniken och intervjuer har vi skapat designoch dialogexempel. Dessa förslag kan främja user experience och på så vis bidra till att den interaktion som sker är effektiv och behaglig. / This bachelor thesis aims to build an understanding how user experience can be promoted in an adaptive speech-based system, which is found in the context of an automobile. Investigating this particular context and system is of importance since the primary task is to drive safely and let the driver focus on driving rather than system. An adaptive system provides the opportunity to make the interaction more effective and a speech-based system lets the driver focus on the traffic environment. By studying relevant theory and by carrying out user tests, with the technique Wizard of Oz, we have drafted design and dialogue recommendations. These recommendations can promote user experience and make the interaction of the system more effective and pleasant. / Safe Speech for Knowledge (SSK)

The introduction of new information technology (IT) in an organisation is one way of changing the conditions for how tasks and work processes can be designed and performed, as well as how people in the organisation interact with each other. Today, many Swedish workers rely completely on IT to be able to perform their jobs, while experiencing a combination of continuous and intermittent IT-related changes that affect this ability. The introduction of new or updated IT systems in an organisation is an example of what is referred to as an IT-related change process in this thesis. Because IT has become such an integral part of modern organisations, many change processes in organisations are simultaneously enabled and constrained by the IT systems involved in a change process. In this thesis, I introduce the concept of inertia in sociotechnical systems to analyse IT-related change processes in organisations, and how achieving the goals of these processes is complicated by organisational, social, and physical aspects in addition to technology. The context of this thesis is the Swedish public sector domains of health-care and higher education, and the result of research studies and experiences from four action research projects in these settings. The contribution of this thesis adds to the contributions of the included papers through the definition of inertia in sociotechnical systems and its subsequent application. The thesis shows that the concept of inertia in sociotechnical systems can be used to understand IT-related change processes as changes to the characteristics of a sociotechnical system, and, in the context of organisations, how these processes affect and are affected by an organisation’s characteristics. This is illustrated in the thesis through the application of the concept on examples of IT-related change processes from the included papers and research projects. In addition, the thesis shows that the use of vision seminar methods can benefit Swedish organisations, since new IT is often introduced without clearly defined, expressed, understood, and accepted goals.

The purpose of this study was to describe the attitudes of a group of nurses towards the use of computers in a Southern California Veterans Affairs hospital.