The Visual Codes of a Product as Operation Cues for Users - with Flash Disks and Lighters as Cases

• Main Authors: Chu-Yu Lin, 林茿宇
• Other Authors: Wen-Dih Yeh
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/10008676317547465958

碩士 === 大同大學 === 工業設計學系(所) === 93 === Abstract In order to effectively familiarize users with the function of the product that they are using, the product can be so designed that through the way it is carried its purpose and operation can be revealed to users. This way the product can be more user-friendly. This study explores how users interpret the operational message conveyed through the outward appearance of a product and examines whether users will interpret similar configuration codes the same way when they are used in products of similar shapes but of different product categories and different operational types. It further compares how users of design background and those without design background perceive the visual codes that serve as hints of how a product is to be handled. Taking flash disk and lighter for example, this study delves into related issues. The exploration consists of two stages. The first stage analyzes and identifies the visual codes of flash disks and lighters currently available in the market, formulates operational clue vocabulary and produces visual code models for the experiment. The second stage involves questionnaire surveys that examine how the operational hints of visual codes are interpreted. Research outcomes indicate: (1) In the area of visual codes that better present the operational hints, out of the 28 flash disk visual codes that convey 13 operational hints, only 6 visual codes (touch, press, hold, push, pull, draw) were correctly interpreted; out of the 38 lighter visual codes that convey 14 operational hints, only 5 visual codes (touch, press, hold, push, twist) were correctly interpreted. (2) In the area of understanding of the operational hints of the visual codes, the operational hints of only 6 flash disk visual codes and 10 lighter visual codes were correctly interpreted. (3) There is significant difference between the ways users of design background and those without design background perceive the same visual codes. (4) When the visual codes are applied to both the flash disk and lighter, most of the visual codes will be interpreted differently in a significant way. In sum, in terms of perception of visual codes, the operational hints that designers attempt to convey are often different from users’ perceptions. When applied to different products, similar codes will generate different perceptions. When designing visual codes, designers are encouraged to take into account product types and their corresponding operational methods in order to create visual codes that are more in line with users’ perceptions. Keywords: visual codes、prompting function、product form affordance