User Interface Design Analysis precor efx 425 elliptical i300: HCI/D - Tom Mitchell Fall 2015

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1 User Interface Design Analysis precor efx 425 elliptical i300: HCI/D - Tom Mitchell Fall Keana Mowery - - Andrew Leguina - - Alex Montgomery -

2 overview // In this project our analyzed the user experience design of a piece of exercise equipment. We did this by having someone interact with the equipment and give a demonstrative perspective of the total user experience. Our methodology in testing the user interface of the exercise equipment consisted of having a test user interact with the device and set two of these three standard methods, in which we evaluated a preselect mode, as well as a manual mode. The machine that we choose to evaluate for this project was the Precor EFX 425 Elliptical crosstrainer. Precor was established in the year 1980, and from that point on they set the standard for quality, innovation, and performance in exercise equipment (About). Precor s main mission with their products is to make fitness more personal, and they incorporate that directly into their mission statement (About). BACKGROUND // The machine that we choose to evaluate for this project was the Precor EFX 425 Elliptical crosstrainer. Precor was established in the year 1980, and from that point on they set the standard for quality, innovation, and performance in exercise equipment (About). Precor s main mission with their products is to make fitness more personal, and they incorporate that directly into their mission statement (About). 2

3 CASE STUDY // M E T H O D S In order to analyze the elliptical, we employed mapping of the machine, affordances and constraints, and metaphors employed in the design of the equipment. Mapping by definition is, a relationship between controls and their movements or effects. Good mapping between controls and their effects result in greater ease of use (Mapping). Metaphors are, a way of comparing an unfamiliar concept or situation to a familiar one (Allanwood). The main metaphors that can be seen on this machines layout are the little running men representing an exercising human as well as the graph layout used to resemble the work outs. For example the heart rate workout has a simple of a little heart and the performance workout shows a graph with huge variations of performance. An affordance is, a property in which the physical characteristics of an object or environment influence its function (Lidwell). A constraint is, a consciously engineered part of an interactive experience that is designed to limit or influence user behavior (Allanwood). A major constraint is that if the user does not understand that pedaling is necessary to light up the screen s display and begin the exercise process. When, after the initial pedaling, the user stops pedaling, the machine prompts the user to resume the action in order to keep the machine on. The layout of The buttons is inconvenient and takes a moment to understand. Once the user figured out the buttons, the mapping is appropriate. The preset workout modes are clearly marked in their own space and the names correspond to a certain type of workout. The pedals and handlebars themselves are a good affordance because they are presented to the user in such a way that they afford to a user stepping onto the machine the right direction. 3

4 case study // P R O C E S S To conduct our study, we went to the Indiana University Student Recreational Sports Center. We photographed and took video of someone using the equipment in two different modes, preset and quick start. B A C K G R O U N D The physical elements of the interface are the buttons, which consist of the number pad, arrow keys, OK button, option button, enter button, and preset workouts, the toggles which control incline and resistance, and the screens. The different displays available depend on which mode the user enters. The only things that change between different displays are the levels on the terrain screen, the levels in the incline and resistance screens at the bottom, and the text on the center screen. 4

5 case study // U S E R I N T E R F A C E progress meter calorie counter heartrate monitor time screen number pad preset workouts incline adjust resistance adjust 5

6 case study // M A P P I N G START begin pedaling select preset workout select quickstart enter age and weight adjust incline continue working out select ok enter age and weight adjust incline adjust difficulty 6

7 CASE STUDY // A N A L Y S I S Q U I C K S T A R T M O D E Step 1 Begin pedaling. Inputs: The user interface screen is not used for this input - the user simply begins pedaling. Audible feedback: The machine makes a beeping noise when the user begins pedaling to inform the user the machine is functioning. Step 2 Screen lights up. Select mode: Quick Start. Inputs: To do this, press the quick start button in the middle of the screen. Visual feedback: the screen lights up with green characters to represent it is running. Step 3 After selecting quick start mode and pedaling for a few moments, the machine tells you you can enter your weight and age for more accurate calorie-burning calculations. User can choose to do so. Inputs: User presses the option button, then the user presses the number buttons on the left hand side to input their age and weight when prompted. Tactile feedback: The machine gives the user resistance according to the information that is entered to maximize workout potential. 7

8 CASE STUDY // A N A L Y S I S Q U I C K S T A R T M O D E Step 4 If you so desire, adjust the time of your work out. Inputs: To do this, use the buttons at the top right hand side of the interface, next to the time screen. Audible feedback: When you press the buttons the machine makes a light beeping noise. Step 5 If you so desire, adjust the incline and resistance of your work out. Inputs: To do this, flick the switches next to the incline and resistance screens either up or down to increase or decrease the setting. Visual feedback and Tactile feedback: the screen displays the increase with a green lit number and their is more incline or resistance depending on what the user inputs. Step 6 The workout is complete when the user s set time is up - or the user just decides that they are too tired to work out anymore. If the user has used the time option, an optional 5-minute cooldown phase begins. Inputs: The user stops pedaling, and after prompting the user to continue pedaling in case they are just slowing down, the machine will eventually turn off on its own. Audible feedback: the machine beeps when the user completes a workout. 8

9 CASE STUDY // A N A L Y S I S P R E S E T M O D E Step 1 Begin Pedaling. Inputs: The user interface screen is not used for this input - the user simply begins pedaling. Audible feedback: The machine makes a beeping noise when the user begins pedaling to inform the user the machine is functioning. Step 2 Screen lights up. Select mode: Preset. Inputs: To do this, press one of the mode buttons on the right hand side of the screen. Visual feedback: the screen lights up with green characters to represent it is running. Step 3 The workout is complete when the preset workout time is up - or the user just decides that they are too tired to work out anymore. If the user has completed the time allotted, an optional 5-minute cooldown phase begins. Inputs: The user stops pedaling, and after prompting the user to continue pedaling in case they are just slowing down, the machine will eventually turn off on its own. Audible feedback: the machine beeps when the user completes a workout. 9

10 CASE STUDY // F I N D I N G S We discovered through our studies that the mode a user chooses really depends on what kind of workout they want to do. If the user just wants the workout to be determined for them, preselect is really ideal. There are fewer questions and they can get right to working out. Quick start as a name is in a way misleading, there are more steps to actually start the workout at that point. Ultimately, using preselect was easier because there were less steps to actually get to the point where a user can commence working out which is what they are there for. However, we feel that the quick start mode, because there is more customization in the workout, results in a more satisfying experience. Quick start, on this machine, functions as manual mode as well - it gives the user the most control over what aspects of exercise are included in the work out. 10

11 Conclusions // S U M M A R Y In order to complete this project we journeyed to the SRSC and found the machine we wished to use for this project. We recorded an individual using the machine and evaluated the steps of use for the machine using the footage. We researched the history of the machine and its maker, Precor. We then analyzed the mapping of the machine, as well as the affordances and constraints of, and metaphors employed in the design of the equipment. We walked through the steps of using the machine and drew conclusions based on our findings, and finally made some reccommendations as to how the machine could be better designed. D E S I G N R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S We would recommend that the machine be more streamlined in how it is designed to make interaction easier for the user. Ideally, the machine would measure the users weight automatically when they step onto the machine. This would eliminate the need to have a keypad to allow the user to enter their weight, removing clutter from the design. Condensing the design would make it simpler and more direct for the user by skipping all of the questions in order to get straight to working out. Number pad aside, this design is pretty streamlined, and every other component should remain. If the design were to be simplified beyond removing the keypad, it would lose functionality. After testing this piece of equipment, we have found that a few minor changes would significantly increase the usability, design, and ease of use for the users. We feel that there is no need to have the user enter their own weight, while standing on both pedals the equipment should automatically weigh you. This reduces the total number of inputs and the user needs to enter. 11

12 REFERENCES // About Precor: History of Innovation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2015, from Allanwood, G., & Beare, P. (2014). User Experience Design. London, UK: Bloomsbury. Lidwell, W., Holden, K., & Butler, J. (n.d.). Universal principles of desgin [PDF]. Retrieved from Mapping [PDF]. (n.d.). Retrieved from 12

Assessing Modes of Interaction

Project 2 Assessing Modes of Interaction Analysis of exercise equipment Overview For this assignment, we conducted a preliminary analysis of two similar types of elliptical trainers. We are able to find