This user study was carried out at the library at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg in the spring of 1999. Chalmers wanted to investigate how much their employees use electronic journals. To facilitate decision-making and be cost effective, the library needed to know about their customers' opinions. The main purpose was to investigate the usage of electronic journals, how the library's choice of these journals affects the frequency of use and what the attitudes towards them are. A questionnaire was sent out to 2 400 employees; 477 replies were received. The result shows that 55% of the respondents use electronic journals at least once a month. The major advantages of electronic journals are, according to the study, the easy access and the option to work from one's own desk. The major disadvantage is the difficulty in scanning them. Two thirds of the respondents are willing to let go of the print journal at the library in favour of the electronic one, but only one fifth are willing to give up their departmental subscriptions. For a majority, conditions such as user friendliness and archiving must be fulfilled before electronic journals can be fully accepted. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Projektet "Individuella Koppar" - som jag sammanfattar i denna rapport - är uppbyggd kring ett antal teman, dessa är: teknik, användarbehov, co-creation och gestaltning.   Mitt arbete grundar sig i hur majoriteten av massproducerade produkter i dagens samhälle inte tar hänsyn till de olikheter, begränsningar och möjligheter som våra kroppar har. Jag valde utifrån detta att arbeta med olika funktionsvariationer och fokusera på användarens händer och deras relation till koppen och handtaget. Handen är den mest anpassningsbara kroppsdelen vi människor har, men också drycken som grunden för vår överlevnad. Syftet var att koppens och handtagens former mer effektivt ska kunna ge stöd och utgå från användarens olika behov. Min metod är den additiva produktionsmetoden - 3D printning i porslinslera - där jag har utforskat möjligheten till att fler produkter anpassas med och utifrån individen.

Within system development users have rarely been involved or received much attention during the development. Most of the times, the primary focus within system development lies on insuring functionality, rather than making the system usable. The literature specifies that a non user-centered approach can contribute to a product with low usability, which can lead to an ineffective and unsatisfactory experience for the end users. The purpose of this thesis is to begin an investigation to see if the use of non user-oriented system development methods is a possible cause of low usability in the final system. To achieve the purpose of this thesis, we have conducted a case study. Within the case study we examined the usability of a time reporting system. The case study included seven minor studies; an investigation concerning the development of the system, an expert evaluation of the system, interviews and observations of users, developed paper prototypes and executable prototypes, both which user testing was performed on. The result of this study shows that by working with user-entered methods, the usability in the time reporting system increased after the design had been revised. This study is therefore another example of that systems developed with user-centered system development methods have higher usability than systems developed not user-centered. / Inom systemutveckling har användare sällan varit involverade eller fått större uppmärksamhet under utvecklingsarbetet. Fokus ligger ofta på att systemet ska ha en viss funktionalitet snarare än att det ska vara användbart. I litteraturen anges att brist på användarcentrering kan bidra till en produkt med låg användbarhet, vilket kan innebära en ineffektiv och otillfredsställande upplevelse för slutanvändarna. Syftet med denna uppsats är att påbörja en undersökning för att se om användandet av icke användarcentrerade systemutvecklingsmetoder är en möjlig orsak till låg användbarhet hos det färdiga systemet. För att uppnå syftet med denna uppsats har vi utfört en fallstudie. Denna fallstudie innebar att undersöka användbarheten i ett tidrapporteringssystem. Fallstudien innehöll sju delstudier; en undersökning av hur utvecklingen av systemet gick till, en expertutvärdering av systemet, intervjuer och observationer av användare, framarbetade pappersprototyper och en framarbetad klickbar prototyp vilka bägge det utfördes användartester på. Resultatet av denna studie visar att användbarheten i tidrapporteringssystemet ökade efter att designen blivit omarbetad med hjälp av användarcentrerade metoder. Denna studie är därför ännu ett exempel på att system utvecklade med användarcentrerade systemutveckling-smetoder har högre användbarhet än system utvecklade icke användarcentrerat.

This thesis examines how library patrons experience the public library as a physical place and how their emotions and opinions fit into the concept sense of community. Nine informants were selected and interviewed about their habits, experiences, preferences, opinions and emotions when visiting their respective most-used libraries. Using the theoretical framework developed by David W. McMillan and David M. Chavis for the concept sense of community as an analytical tool, the transcribed interviews have been closely studied and analysed in terms of the different criteria that make up a sense of community according to the theory. Some criteria were found to be relatively weak in the interview data, such as a shared emotional bond and strict boundary settings. Other criteria were better represented, such as a sense of personal investment, mutual influence between patron and library, a sense of belonging, fulfilment of needs, and shared values. The informants were particularly unified when discussing the importance of a public library for a local community as a place that welcomes all for free, values culture and knowledge, and provides a multitude of books and media in a calm, peaceful environment. The conclusion was drawn that public library patrons do feel a sense of community with their local library, its staff and other users, and that there’s a connection to this sense of community and the sense of being a citizen in Sweden as a whole. Physical factors such as interaction with staff and the make-up of the collection were found to be of particular importance to patrons, but other physical factors also influenced how they viewed and made use of specific public libraries.

The point of this thesis is to determine what the effects are of bibliotherapy from both the views of the participants as well as the leaders. The basic idea of the thesis stems from several scientific articles and books on the subject matter from the past ten years that highlight the lack of empirical material regarding user intentions in bibliotherapy. The thesis is based on a deductive approach through these previous texts. The empirical material gathered through the use of seven semi-structured interviews with both leaders and users of bibliotherapy. The participants have primarily been involved with creative bibliotherapy in library settings as well as in churches. The qualitative data gathered through interviews were then analysed via several theories based on, among others, emotional response, aesthetic reading and catharsis.  It was found that while leaders initially were not in control of what impressions the potential participants initially had about bibliotherapy, or what use they thought it could bring them, they tried to mitigate it by being thorough and clear what regarding the goals about bibliotherapy were. However, it was generally concluded that whatever goals the participants originally had usually converged towards the end with the intended goals of the leaders of the various bibliotherapy schemes, whether they be personal development or emotional catharsis.

In this two-years masters thesis the information practices of former interns are examined in relation to a possible lack of certain kinds of information in the prison environment. The essay is positioned in the research field of information practices which means its looking at all kinds of information, formal and informal. Since the essay is in the field of information practices it means the focus lies in how information is taught whithin contexts and groups. Information is not looked at solely as an individual process but is seen as a collective experience. The method of the essay is that of the qualitative research interview. Besides taking an interest in information practices i investigate whether access of information in prisons could be improved and whether the library organisations could be a part of those improvements. The result of my research shows that information in the prison coming from the correctional institution is not perceived as well functioning. Some exceptions where found but these where described by the informants as instances where staff had been extra helpful, as opposed to there being a functioning system of information practices in place in the organisation of the prison. Several of the informants thought information within groups of inmates could be motivating. A reason for this could be that groups of inmates are in the same situation, the power differences of the situated identities inmate and prison guard does not exist among inmates. In order of accessing relevant information from prison staff the inmates had to be driven and determined. The result of this essay further shows that it is too late to plan the release after the release has taken place. Several of the informants recounted increased difficulties in adjustment to the new social situation, having gone through psychological breakdown subsequent to their release. Many practical problems like for example homelessness also occurred. The research points to the prison libraries as a place where steps in coping with the release could successfully have been taken. This being so because the libraries are a place where the situated prisoner identity can be dissolved. Where one can remember ones interests and which books one used to read. in which sense there is already in the library room, an opening to the outside world. During the prison stay many find it difficult thinking about the world outside. It can be explained in terms of an adjustment to the social practices in the institution having taken place and in that the contrasts between the correctional institution and the world outside being to wide.

This report presents the process of a product development of an iron with technicallyimproved functions, an ergonomic evaluation with suggestion of improvement and a designprocess of an iron designed for the context it will be used in. The master thesis was written bytwo master students from Industrial Engineering and Management department of The RoyalInstitute of Technology at the Advanced Development department at Electrolux.A literature study was performed using KTH search tool Primo for articles of scientific heightalong with a state of the art and market analysis and a patent search. After the literature studythe process moved over to an investigation or different ironing methods inspired by thestandard IEC 60311. The result was used in combination with literature study to developtechnical prototypes which concluded in one final product.A user study was completed with a survey, observation and deeper interviews to understandusers’ needs which resulted in insights, personas and customer journeys. The user studyfindings were thereafter analysed and categorised into a list of opportunity of improvements,function analysis and list of requirements. These were used as tools when continuing withidea generation and prototype development. The prototypes resulted in a technical solutionand an ergonomic study focusing on the angle of the handle. User tests were completed withinboth areas which resulted in recommendations and suggestions based on user needs.A design concept was developed alongside the prototyping process. This process consisted ofsketches, models and a final design based on three mood boards describing Electrolux, thecontext the iron is used and design guidelines for the new iron.The final product resulted in an ergonomic and sustainable iron with a design which blendswith the interior of a home. The handle was suggested to be 30o in relation to the soleplate toenable a relaxing posture for the wrist and body. / Denna rapport presenterar en produktutvecklingsprocess av ett strykjärn med teknisktförbättrade funktioner, en ergonomisk utvärdering med förslag på förbättring och endesignprocess av ett strykjärn designat för det sammanhang det används i. Examensarbetetslutfördes av två master studenter från Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, KTH, förPrimärutvecklingsavdelningen på Electrolux.En litteraturstudie utfördes med hjälp av KTHs sökverktyg Primo för artiklar av vetenskaplighöjd tillsammans med en State of the Art, marknadsanalys och en patentsökning. Efterlitteraturstudien fortsatte processen med en undersökning av olika strykningsmetoder medhjälp av standarden IEC 60311. Resultatet användes i kombination med litteraturstudien vidutveckling av tekniska prototyper.En användarstudie genomfördes inkluderande en enkätundersökning, observation ochdjupare intervjuer för att förstå användarnas behov. Detta resulterade i flera insikter, personasoch kundresor. Resultatet av användarstudierna analyserades därefter och sammanfattadestill en lista med möjligheter till förbättringar, en funktionsanalys och kravspecifikation. Dessaanvändes som verktyg i det fortsatta arbetet med idégenerering och prototyputveckling.Prototyperna resulterade i en teknisk lösning och en ergonomisk studie med fokus påhandtagets vinkel. Användartester utfördes för båda prototypområdena, vilket resulterade irekommendationer och förslag baserat på användarnas behov.Ett designkoncept utvecklades parallellt med de två prototypprocesserna. Denna processbestod av skisser, modeller och en slutlig design baserad på tre MoodBoards, en som beskriverElectrolux, en för omgivningen som strykjärnet används och en med design riktlinjer för detnya strykjärnet.Slutprodukten resulterade i ett ergonomiskt och hållbart strykjärn med en design som passarin i ett hem. Handtaget föreslås vara 30o mot stryksulan för att möjliggöra en meravslappnande hållning för handleden och kroppen.

In this project, a stackable and foldable basket would be developed. The basket will be used for grocery shopping, where it can replace single use bags. Private individuals would own and use the basket for grocery shopping and grocery stores would use it for home deliveries. The project was divided into two phases. In the first phase, the research phase, relevant facts were gathered. A literature study focusing on sustainability was conducted as well as user studies. All information resulted in a number of insights that formed the basis for the coming phase. Some ofthe major insights were that people appreciate the feeling of ‘close to nature’ in relation to food and that shopping for food must not take up unnecessary time or be complicated. Also, it was realized that a basket intended for home delivery and a basket intended for private use would differ. Therefore, it was decided to focus on making a basket intended for private use. In the second phase, the design phase, a large number of ideas were generated. CAD, sketching and rapid prototyping were used as tools. Iterations resulted in four concepts of baskets. The baskets were folded in different ways and had different value-added functions. Prototypes were made and used during user tests, which resulted in no longer continuing to develop any type of value-added function. It was also decided to continue developing the concept of The straight collapsible basket. This basket was similar to a box in shape and would therefore, for practical reasons, also be well suited for home delivery. Likewise, with eliminated value-added functions, the basket would not risk becoming too complex. Therefore, home delivery was again included within the use of the basket. A detailed CAD model was made where the design was adapted tothe requirements of injection moulding. Likewise, the design and material were adapted to the mood board that had been developed. The material was also selected based on a smaller LCA, made in the GRANTA EduPack program. In parallel, solid mechanics calculations were made to ensure that the basket would meet the load capacity requirements. The result is a product proposition that meets the requirements of stackability and foldability. It is adapted for both private use and home delivery. / I detta projekt skulle en vikbar och stapelbar korg utvecklas. Korgens ska användas till mathandling, där den kan ersätta engångspåsar. Privatpersoner kan äga och använda korgen till mathandling och livsmedelsbutiker kan nyttja den vid hemleverans. Projektet var uppdelat i två faser. I den första fasen, researchfasen, samlades relevant fakta inom området. En litteraturstudie med fokus på hållbarhet gjordes och användarstudier utfördes. Informationen resulterade i ett antal insikter som låg till grund för den kommande fasen. Några av de större insikterna var att människor uppskattar känslan av naturnära i relation till mat och att mathandling inte får ta upp onödig tid eller vara krångligt. Framförallt insågs att skillnaderna mellan en korg ämnad för hemleverans och en korg ämnad för privat bruk skulle riskeras vara för stora. Därför beslutades det att fokusera på att göra en korg anpassad för privat bruk. I den andra fasen, designfasen, genererades ett stort antal idéer. CAD, skiss och rapid prototyping var verktyg som användes. Iterationer resulterade i fyra koncept, bestående av korgar. Korgarna fälldes ihop på olika sätt och hade olika mervärdesfunktioner. Prototyper av kartong gjordes som sedan användes vid användartester. Användartesterna resulterade i att inte längre fortsätta utveckla någon typ av mervärdesfunktion samt att fortsätta utveckla konceptet av The straight collapsible basket. Denna korg var lik en låda till formen och skulle därför av praktiska skäl lämpa sig bra även inom hemleverans. Likaså, med eliminerade mervärdesfunktioner skulle korgen inte riskera att bli komplex att hantera. Därför blev det aktuellt att åter inkludera hemleverans inom användandet av korgen. En detaljerad CAD-modell gjordes där designen anpassades efter de kravsom tillverkningstekniken formsprutning ställer. Likaså anpassades designen och materialet efter den mood board som tidigare tagits fram. Materialet valdes också baserat på en mindre LCA, gjord i programmet GRANTA EduPack. Parallellt gjordes hållfasthetsberäkningar för att säkerställa att korgen skulle möta de krav som hade satts gällande last. Resultatet är ett produktförslag som uppfyller kraven på stapel- och vikbarhet. Den är anpassad för både privat bruk och hemleverans.

<p>Scania InfoMate develops web applications that support truck distributors and workshops with the necessary tools for an effective maintenance process. However, the end-users of these applications are faced with as many different graphical interfaces as there are applications. As a consequence, important effects of recognition are lost, developers spend unnecessary time designing new solutions for each application and Scania InfoMate does not present a homogeneous brand image towards its customers.</p><p>Therefore the aim of this study is to give a suggestion of how a standardized graphical interface for web applications at Scania InfoMate should be designed. The given suggestion should come from thorough investigation of both end-user needs and recent research within the area of usability. In addition to a standardized interface this study also aims to deliver guidelines that support future web application development at Scania InfoMate.</p><p>Through a combination of methods, mainly heuristic evaluation and user interviews, an elaborate description of usability and consistency problems in a defined web application portfolio is produced. This served as a basis for developing an interface design suggestion and helped pinpoint crucial areas in need of usability and consistency guidelines.</p><p>The main findings are a graphical interface design suggestion that specify positioning and visualization of common interface elements and guidelines ensuring that future web application development at Scania InfoMate is kept at a high standard regarding usability and consistency. This study also points out areas for further development at Scania InfoMate and suggests that additional studies should take place to establish a common view on consistency issues.</p>

Scania InfoMate develops web applications that support truck distributors and workshops with the necessary tools for an effective maintenance process. However, the end-users of these applications are faced with as many different graphical interfaces as there are applications. As a consequence, important effects of recognition are lost, developers spend unnecessary time designing new solutions for each application and Scania InfoMate does not present a homogeneous brand image towards its customers. Therefore the aim of this study is to give a suggestion of how a standardized graphical interface for web applications at Scania InfoMate should be designed. The given suggestion should come from thorough investigation of both end-user needs and recent research within the area of usability. In addition to a standardized interface this study also aims to deliver guidelines that support future web application development at Scania InfoMate. Through a combination of methods, mainly heuristic evaluation and user interviews, an elaborate description of usability and consistency problems in a defined web application portfolio is produced. This served as a basis for developing an interface design suggestion and helped pinpoint crucial areas in need of usability and consistency guidelines. The main findings are a graphical interface design suggestion that specify positioning and visualization of common interface elements and guidelines ensuring that future web application development at Scania InfoMate is kept at a high standard regarding usability and consistency. This study also points out areas for further development at Scania InfoMate and suggests that additional studies should take place to establish a common view on consistency issues.