From a momentary experience to a lasting one : the concept of and research on expanded user experience of mobile devices
Satu Luojus · 2010
In order to respond to the challenges posed by technological development, new interdisciplinary concepts and methods in the fields of research and design of information and communication technology are required. The researchers in this fields have been trying to solve design problems by, for example, concentrating on designing for the user experience (UX). Nevertheless, the concept of UX has been widely disseminated and rapidly adapted in many areas of design without it being clearly defined or deeply understood. Not only theoretical study of the phenomenon is needed but also analytical tools to more comprehensively analyse and understand UX. Such an important tool would be a concept that can be used to study practical phenomena in a comprehensive manner. The theoretical objective of this thesis was to formulate a new, “expanded” concept of UX that can be used to describe human experience with technology so that both short-term and longer-term aspects of this experience can be taken into account. Based on the review of the literature, it seemed that Dewey’s concept of aesthetic experience could provide a theoretical frame of reference for an approach aiming at understanding UX in a more comprehensive manner. A broad theoretical concept, such as Dewey’s concept of aesthetic experience, is not directly applicable to empirical research, however. The practical objective of the thesis was to outline a method or a set of methods how the concept can be operationalised. A comprehensive and operational concept of UX is generated based on Dewey’s concept of aesthetic experience that is divided into two levels utilising Leontjev’s activity theory. As a result of the research, the concept of expanded user experience (eUX) and the reflective research method for studying it has been created. This research has shown that by studying longerterm UX in addition to temporal UX and by focusing on analysing the user’s activity it is possible to see a larger and more meaningful view on UX. The reflective research method is particularly beneficial as a long-term research method focusing on the everyday environments of users.