Fred Boekhorst Steady progress in Information and Communication technology has advanced the Internet, once merely a tool for exchange of scientific infor- tion between universities, to a platform that enables the transformation of our society. In this new, digital society, people can take more informed decisions because of new mechanisms for finding what you’re looking for [Google], new mechanisms of accessing background knowledge [Wikipedia], new ways of engaging with one another [chat], new ways of trading goods [e-Bay] and many more. While these represent already profound changes in our lifestyle, the effects of digitizing society have just begun. So far, the Internet has made information accessible through computer screens but the next wave will be “The Internet of Things”. Environments will become smart and responsive to the presence of people and objects. The key underlying technology here is embedded sensor technology that allows sensors to monitor people and their environment and to communicate me- urements. The combination of the Internet [representing Intelligence and p- vasiveness] and sensor networks [representing Ambient probing] will unlock many new applications, for example in the field of optimized logistics, smart agriculture or more intelligent living environments. At Philips, we have set up three different laboratory environments that aim to research how an int- ligent environment could help people. One of those environments is called “Care-Lab” in which we investigate how technology could help elderly ma- tain an independent lifestyle.
This book adheres to the vision that in the future compelling user experiences
will be key differentiating benefits of products and services.
Evaluating the user experience plays a central role, not only during the design process,
but also during regular usage: for instance a video recorder that recommends TV programs that fit your current mood, a product that measures your current level of relaxation and produces advice on how to balance your life, or a module that alerts a factory operator when he is getting drowsy.
Such systems are required to assess and interpret user experiences (almost) in real-time, and that is exactly what this book is about. How to achieve this? What are potential applications of psychophysiological measurements? Are real-time assessments based on monitoring of user behavior possible? If so, which elements are critical? Are behavioral aspects important? Which technology can be used? How important are intra-individual differences? What can we learn from products already on the market?
The book gathers a group of invited authors from different backgrounds, such as technology, academy and business. This is a mosaic of their work, and that of Philips Research, in the assessment of user experience, covering the full range from academic research to commercial propositions.
