A User-Centred Interaction Design: A Holistic Approach
Gibson Kimutai, Anna Förster · 2024
User-centered design (UCD) plays a critical role in product development by focusing on creating interactive products that effectively meet the diverse needs of users. This study introduces a comprehensive approach that integrates the Agile Scrum software development life-cycle (SDLC) with a strong emphasis on usability and explainability. In our approach, users were actively involved as co-designers throughout the entire development process. This involvement was crucial for enhancing both the usability and explainability of the product. To assess the practical application of this approach, we applied it to developing a deep learning-based tea fermentation detection model. We engaged users extensively through various methods, including questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and direct observation, to gather detailed requirements and feedback. The integration of user feedback into the Interactive Design (ID) process aimed to refine and improve the product based on real user experiences. Our findings indicate that this user-centered approach resulted in a 10% increase in project costs and a 25% extension of the timeline. Despite these additional investments, the positive feedback received from users justified the increased expenditure. Notably, our study revealed that female users reported lower levels of satisfaction compared to their male counterparts, a trend consistent with other research. This suggests a need for further exploration into the factors contributing to this disparity and high-lights the importance of addressing gender-specific concerns in software design. Overall, this study underscores the effectiveness of combining agile methodologies with user-centered principles to achieve high usability and explainability. The insights gained emphasize the necessity for continued research into creating more inclusive and effective software solutions. Addressing the diverse needs of all users, including understanding gender-specific differences leads to products that have equitable user experiences and higher satisfaction across various demographics.