The lack of existing guides or recommendations to design for touch is the cause of an opportunity to create a more efficient process for people designing a touch-based system. Today the process is highly time consuming and leads to inconsistency between products which impacts the user experience in a negative way. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to create tools to help UX-designers or developers in the process of constructing touch-based systems with consistency in between platforms. However, challenges arise in consideration of the degree of structure the guide should give to achieve a general yet user friendly experience, specifically in terms of the medical imaging field. To fulfill the aim, the approach of Research through Design is applied throughout the process, with a focus on user testing with the users in healthcare to validate the pairing of touch gestures in a medical imaging system. The conclusion of this thesis includes how to generally use touch gestures in different fields and the process of deciding which functions to assign a gesture to. The knowledge is applied in the result of the thesis work, which is the guidelines and the information cards, that concludes how to support UX-designers and developers in their work with touch gestures.

This research paper delves into the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the process of user experience (UX) design resulting in more-than-human-made designs. Specifically, the study focuses on the utilization of the text-to-image AI tool, Midjourney. The primary research questions addressed in this paper are twofold: 1) How do AI tools influence the current UX design process of a high-fidelity prototype? and 2) How do more-than-human-made high-fidelity prototypes compare with human-made high-fidelity prototypes in terms of UX? To answer these research questions, a two-method study design was employed. Firstly, two focus groups with in total of 8 designers as participants were formed, with one group utilizing Midjourney to investigate its influence on the design process and to compare the two groups regarding their workwise. The aim was to create two comparable prototypes within a specific e-commerce setting. Secondly, a between-subjects design user study with 32 participants was conducted to test the high-fidelity prototypes and to assess any potential disparities in UX quality between them. The findings regarding the first research question indicate that Midjourney primarily serves as an inspirational tool. Designers were able to harness the AI tool to generate dark mode images, with the final chosen dark mode exemplifying the impact of Midjourney. Additionally, designers attempted to utilize the tool for creating icons. Regarding the second research question, the user study revealed that, despite similar and comparable use cases, there were only minor significant differences in terms of UX quality. The overall scores in System Usability Scale (SUS) and User Experience Questionnaire Plus (UEQ+) did not exhibit any significant disparity. This study suggests that while Midjourney proves to be a useful tool within the design process, its current influence on designers' UX design process and the ultimate performance of the final prototype remains relatively modest. Further research and development may be required to enhance its impact in the field of UX design and the study design should be used to test other AI tools in comparable settings.

In today's digital age, efficient field operations are crucial for success across various industries. However, usability challenges are often overlooked in favour of functionality, hindering seamless task execution in the field. Evado, a company specialising in software solutions for field workers, offers the Evado Mobile Flow application to help streamline their operations. Yet, as demands evolve and complexities increase, usability shortcomings become increasingly apparent. Therefore, this master's thesis aims to optimise field operations by redesigning Evado Mobile Flow to enhance usability and efficiency. Critical usability challenges within the current interface are identified, such as usage difficulties for new users, followed by a comprehensive redesign process using the double diamond design approach. The methodology encompasses discovery, definition, development, and delivery phases, ensuring an effective outcome. The project started with the discovery and define phases, focusing on understanding user needs and interface limitations. Various techniques, including literature review, benchmarking, navigation flowchart, interviews, observations, hierarchical task analysis, and personas, provided valuable insights into the interface and user understanding, which helped to understand the existing problems. Next up was the development and delivery phase, which employed ideation methods such as braindrawing and scampering to generate a broad range of improvements and ideas. These were evaluated through a Pugh matrix and refined through iterative prototyping. The winning design proposal then underwent usability tests, focusing on task completion rates, clicks, user satisfaction, and potential improvements. The initial round of testing on the first prototype prompted a redesign, addressing newly identified usability challenges and introducing new functionalities aligned with evolving user needs. After a redesign, the final design underwent a second usability test and a system usability scale, yielding a usability score of 88.8 and recommendations for future iterations. Recommendations for future work and iterations include exploring the redesigned interface's long-term impacts on field operations and opportunities for further enhancement. This thesis emphasises the importance of user-centred design in developing effective digital solutions and provides a framework for similar endeavours in mobile interface design. / I dagens digitala ålder är effektiva fältoperationer avgörande när det gäller framgång inom olika industrier. Trots det förbises användbarhetsutmaningar ofta till förmån för funktionalitet, vilket förhindrar effektivt utförande av uppgifter i fältet. Evado, ett företag specialiserat på programvarulösningar för fältarbetare, erbjuder applikationen Evado Mobile Flow för att hjälpa till att effektivisera denna typ av verksamhet. Ändå, i takt med att kraven utvecklas och komplexiteten ökar, blir bristerna i applikationens användbarhet alltmer uppenbara. Därför syftar detta examensarbete till att optimera fältoperationer genom att omforma Evado Mobile Flow för att förbättra användbarheten och effektiviteten. Kritiska användbarhetsutmaningar inom den nuvarande gränssnittet har identifierats, som svårigheter att använda gränssnittet som en ny användare, och följts upp med hjälp av en omfattande designprocess. Vilket har skett med hjälp av double diamond design processen. Metoden omfattar de olika faserna av upptäck, definiera, utveckla och leverera, vilket säkerställer ett effektivt resultat. Projektet inleddes med faserna upptäck och definiera, vilka fokuserade på att förstå användarnas behov och gränssnittets begränsningar. Olika tekniker, inklusive litteraturundersökning, benchmarking, navigationsflödesschema, intervjuer, observationer, hierarkisk uppgiftsanalys och personas, gav värdefulla insikter i gränssnitt- och användarförståelse, vilket hjälpte till att förstå de befintliga problemen. Nästa steg var utvecklings- och leveransfasen, som använde idégenererings metoder som braindrawing och scamper för att generera ett brett utbud av förbättringar och idéer. Dessa utvärderades genom en Pugh-matris och förfinades genom iterativa prototyper. Det vinnande designförslaget genomgick sedan användbarhetstester, med fokus på godkänt genomförande, klick, användarnöjdhet och potentiella förbättringar. Den initiala omgången av testning som skedde på den första prototypen ledde till en iteration i designen, vilket adresserade nya identifierade användbarhets-utmaningar och introducerade nya potentiella funktioner som kan anpassas till användarnas behov. Efter denna iteration genomgick den slutliga designen ett andra användbarhetstest samt metoden system usability scale, vilket resulterade i ett betyg på användbarheten, på 88.8 poäng och nya rekommendationer för framtida iterationer. Rekommendationer för framtida arbete och iteration på denna applikation kan vara att utforska det omformade gränssnittets långsiktiga påverkan på fältoperationer och möjligheter till ytterligare förbättringar. Detta examensarbete betonar även på vikten av användarcentrerad design i utvecklingen av effektiva digitala lösningar och tillhandahåller därmed en ram för liknande utveckling inom mobilgränssnittsdesign.

[pt] A complexidade inerente ao desenvolvimento de um jogo digital demanda a formação de equipes interdisciplinares. Para atingir os resultados esperados nessa tarefa, os profissionais envolvidos criam diversos protótipos durante o processo de design, cada um testando um ou mais aspectos do objeto final. Um dos componentes mais importantes a ser avaliado em um game é a mecânica do jogo, porque é principalmente dela que emerge o desafio numa partida. Para que o designer possa avaliá-la adequadamente nos seus diversos estágios de desenvolvimento é preciso que tais protótipos sejam funcionais, o que usualmente se define como protótipos de teste. Diversos tipos de protótipos podem cumprir esta função, desde os mais rudimentares até os digitais de alta fidelidade. Sendo a mecânica do jogo um dos primeiros elementos a serem elaborados em um projeto de design de games, tanto protótipos de papel, quanto os protótipos digitais de baixa fidelidade podem ser utilizados logo no início do processo. No entanto, os estudantes de design nem sempre possuem a capacitação técnica adequada ou mesmo um conhecimento elementar em programação computacional para construir protótipos digitais. Uma alternativa, portanto, é construir protótipos a partir de materiais mais rudimentares, um procedimento que, para este fim, é menos usual na indústria de jogos do que a criação de protótipos digitais. Por meio de um experimento com alunos do curso de Design de Games, esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar se a mecânica de jogos de diferentes gêneros pode ser criada e avaliada por meio de protótipos analógicos mais simples, mas que não usam programação computacional. Paralelamente, a pesquisa ainda nos permitiu indagar se, na construção destes protótipos, o aluno de design de games trabalharia apenas intelectualmente na concepção projetual ou se também exerceria, de alguma forma, uma atividade produtiva. Notou-se que, por serem protótipos rápidos, os protótipos analógicos são adaptativos e permitem mudanças instantâneas, possibilitando que os estudantes exercitem a prática do design por meio de um processo iterativo de geração de ideias, construção de protótipos, testes avaliativos e recriações. Deste modo, concluiu-se que tais protótipos não são somente instrumentos de concepção, mas também de produção, propiciando a prática essencial do design, que é fundamentalmente inventiva e experimental. A contribuição deste trabalho é fornecer uma nova alternativa de aprendizagem da prática projetual a estudantes de design de games, já que os resultados da pesquisa demonstraram que tais protótipos – que possuem semelhanças físicas com alguns jogos simples, como os de tabuleiro – também podem ser utilizados para criar e desenvolver games mais complexos. / [en] The intrinsic complexity of the process of developing a digital game turns the formation of multidisciplinary teams inevitable. To meet the planned aims, during the design process the professionals involved create a variety of prototypes, each one testing one or more aspects of the final object. One of the more important components to be evaluated in a game is its mechanics due its key-role in making a match really challenging. In order to be make its mechanics properly appraisable by the designer in the different stages of development, it is necessary that the prototypes were functional, in other words, were reliable prototypes of test. There are many kinds of prototypes capable of fulfilling this condition, ranging from the most rudimentary to the high fidelity digital ones. Since the game s mechanics is one of the first elements to be elaborated in a game design project, either paper prototypes as well as the low fidelity digital prototypes can be used from the very beginning of the design process. Besides that, the students of design frequently do not possess the necessary technical knowledge on computational programming to allow them constructing digital prototypes, even if the necessary knowledge is elementary. An alternative, therefore, is building prototypes from rudimentary materials, which is, however, a less usual proceeding in the game industry that the creation of digital prototypes. The aim of the present research, through an experiment among the students of the discipline of Games Design, was to investigate if the mechanics of different genres of games could be created and evaluated by simpler analogical prototypes, without using computational programming. At the same time, this work has allowed us to inquire if, during the construction of theses prototypes, the game design students work only intellectually on the project conception or if, somehow, they also practice a productive activity. We have found out that, for being quick prototypes, they are very adaptable and permit instant changes, turning possible for the students to practice the design process through an interactive process of generating ideas, prototypes building, evaluative tests and recreations. The conclusion we achieve thus is that theses prototypes not only are conception instruments but also production ones, promoting the essential practice of design, which is basically inventive and experimental. The contribution of the present study is to offer a learning alternative on the project practice for game design students, once the results of the research demonstrated that the prototypes – which present physical similarities to some simple games, as the board games – can also be used in the creation and development of more complex games.

This master thesis is a case study, in the experience industry, of prototypes in the early stage of the innovation process – the front end of innovation. The innovation is augmented reality (AR) that adds digital made graphics or information in the user's environment. To answer the research questions and to fulfill the purpose of this thesis, which is to gain an understanding of the role of a prototype in an innovation process, a prototype was created. The designing tools used for developing the prototype were brainstorming and storyboarding. The prototype presents a concept of using AR-glasses at an ice hockey venue. A workshop was carried out for evaluating the finished prototype, using the "thinking hats"-method. The conclusion of this study is that a prototype can be used as a starting point for further creativity by creating a common perspective of a technology at the front end of innovation. Further on, it was discovered that a prototype can be good to use earlier in their innovation process, to accelerate the process. In the process of designing the prototype, it was shown that the creation is iterative, rather than linear.

In Sweden, there are students who live in small student apartments. These apartments can be called compact living as a student apartment can be as small as 16 square meters. To take advantage of the place that is in small homes, it would be good if larger furniture could be combined into a piece of furniture. On behalf of Husmuttern AB, this work has been aimed at exploring furniture concepts with sleeping and their functions in a compact living environment for students. The issues being examined are: -          What functions are desirable in a multifunctional seating and sleeping furniture for students and people living in compact living environments? -          How can a multifunctional seating and sleeping furniture be designed, that is applied to students living in a compact-living environment? Human Centered Design was used as a method and thus a qualitative data collection was carried out in the form of observations. The respondents were in the primary target group and were observed in their everyday lives in their homes. A focus group was involved in generating ideas and concepts. Functional prototypes were built, and 3D models were created in SolidWorks. Digital testing of the concepts was carried out and the development of the Generation Sofa Bed was realized. There is a discussion about how reliable this study is, when the results became situational. However, the respondents were from a limited audience and had different views on what they wanted from a sofa bed, which provided rewarding information for the development of the furniture. The conclusion is that while the Generation Sofa Bed needs to be further developed through testing and evaluation of storage facilities, it has great potential to become a finished product. / I Sverige bor det studenter i små studentlägenheter. De lägenheterna kan kallas för compact living då en studentlägenhet kan vara så liten som 16 kvadratmeter. För att ta vara på den plats som finns i små hem vore det bra om större möbler kunde kombineras till en möbel. På uppdrag av Husmuttern AB har detta arbete haft som syfte att utforska möbelkoncept med sov- och sittfunktioner i en compact living miljö för studenter. De frågor som undersöks är: 1.      Vilka funktioner är önskvärda i en multifunktionell sitt- och sovmöbel för studenter och personer som bor i compact living miljö? 2.      Hur kan en multifunktionell sitt- och sovmöbel konstrueras, som är tillämpad för studenter som bor i compact-living miljö?  Human Centered Design användes som metod och därmed genomfördes en kvalitativ datainsamling i form av observationer. Respondenterna var med i den primära målgruppen och observerades i sin vardag i sina hem. En fokusgrupp var med och genererade idéer och koncept. Funktionsprototyper byggdes och 3D modeller skapades i SolidWorks. Digital testning av koncepten genomfördes och utvecklingen av Bäddsoffan Generations blev förverkligad. Det finns en diskussion om hur pålitlig denna studie är, då resultaten blev situationsbaserade. Dock var respondenterna från en begränsad målgrupp och hade olika syn på vad de ville ha av en bäddsoffa, vilket gav givande information till utvecklingen av möbeln. Slutsatsen är att medan Bäddsoffan Generations behöver vidareutvecklas genom testning och utvärdering om förvaringsmöjligheter, så har den stor potential att bli en färdig produkt.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Design and Studio Art)) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014 / This quantitative research project investigates the utilization of emerging technologies within the arts with a view on establishing an interdisciplinary approach between ceramics and engineering. The traditional manufacturing method of producing master moulds is a time-consuming process for the studio ceramicist. This study explores whether computer-aided design (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) milling can accelerate the design and manufacturing process when developing master moulds as an alternative to using traditional methods. It investigates whether SolidWorks® can be applied as a suitable CAD design tool for the creation of ceramic vessel forms in order to reduce the design development time frame. It furthermore investigates whether CNC milling can be used as a viable manufacturing technology for the making of vessel prototypes and master moulds from CAD data, the overall objective being to improve and accelerate the plaster of Paris master mould manufacturing process for the batch production of studio-based ceramic artefacts. Findings from this study indicate that emerging technologies have a lot to offer the artist when it comes to providing new possibilities for the creation of artefacts and that SolidWorks® and CNC milling can be utilized as a viable interdisciplinary manufacturing approach between ceramics and digital manufacturing technologies.

The theories of social cognition and personal constructs compose the theoretical backdrop to this dissertation which deals with people's expectations regarding romantic partners and relationships.Five women were interviewed and a qualitative analysis undertaken and discussed with a view to elucidating the influence of one's parents, cultural background and individual identity on the development and functioning of expectations. These expectation are based on beliefs about men and relationships in general and about healthy and unhealthy relationships in particular. Attension is given to the role of relationship beliefs and expectations in evaluations of romantic relationships and the consequences of such evaluations for relationship satisfaction and commitment. It is concluded that expectations play an important role in the process of partner and relationship eva,uation and thus, in the outcome of relationships. Parental and cultural influences are found to play an important part in shaping individual values and expetations, albeit in an indirect manner. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The diploma thesis explores the four seasons from the view point of the linguistic picture of the world theory. The etholinguistic approach is applied in the thesis - attention is paid to the Czech-specific perception of reality especially focused on the weather and the changes of the nature in the course of the four seasons. Human perception of the change is based upon the senses - the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, and touch and the eyesight. Each season is unique. The seasons can be differentiated by their season specific stereotypes, season prototypes, and connotations. On the linguistic pictures of each season collocations are built, from which new lexical items originate, describing the season as such. Due to anthropocentrism we perceive individual astronomical and meteorological issues as personified items to which we ascribe human behaviour and human qualities. The motto of the thesis says: "I will not do the spring sowing next year. " The motto denotes the interaction of two conceptual schemata (the scheme of a cycle and the scheme of a journey) realizing the fact that the natural cycle corresponds in our mental representation with the phases of human life. The difference between the concepts is that man always reaches the terminal point of his journey unlike the nature constantly...

The aim of this project was to investigate what information is critical to convey to nurses when performing digital triage. In addition, the project aimed to investigate how such information could be visualized. This was done through a combined user research and machine learning approach, which enabled for a more nuanced and thorough investigation compared to only making use of one of the two fields. There is sparse research investigating how digital triaging can be improved and made more efficient. Therefore, this study has contributed with new and relevant insights. Three machine learning algorithms were implemented to predict the right level of care for a patient. Out of these three, the random forest classifier proved to have the best performance with an accuracy of 69.46%, also having the shortest execution time. Evaluating the random forest classifier, the most important features were stated to be the duration and progress of the symptoms, allergies to medicine, chronic diseases and the patient's own estimation of his/her health. These factors could all be confirmed by the user research approach, indicating that the results from the approaches were aligned. The results from the user research approach also showed that the patients' own description of their symptoms was of great importance. These findings served as a basis for a number of visualization decisions, aiming to make the triage process as accurate and efficient as possible.