Subjective Evaluation of Forms in an Immersive Environment

TL;DR

This paper explores how virtual reality tools can be used to assess user perceptions of product forms through established methods like multidimensional scaling, semantic differential, and preference mapping, enhancing early design evaluation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the application of perceptual assessment methods within immersive environments for evaluating virtual product forms, highlighting advantages and limitations.

Findings

Effective use of VR for subjective product evaluation

Insights into the benefits of immersive assessment methods

Discussion of limitations in virtual form perception

Abstract

User's perception of product, by essence subjective, is a major topic in marketing and industrial design. Many methods, based on users' tests, are used so as to characterise this perception. We are interested in three main methods: multidimensional scaling, semantic differential method, and preference mapping. These methods are used to built a perceptual space, in order to position the new product, to specify requirements by the study of user's preferences, to evaluate some product attributes, related in particular to style (aesthetic). These early stages of the design are primordial for a good orientation of the project. In parallel, virtual reality tools and interfaces are more and more efficient for suggesting to the user complex feelings, and creating in this way various levels of perceptions. In this article, we present on an example the use of multidimensional scaling, semantic differential method and preference mapping for the subjective assessment of virtual products. These products, which geometrical form is variable, are defined with a CAD model and are proposed to the user with a spacemouse and stereoscopic glasses. Advantages and limitations of such evaluation is next discussed..