Exploring the potentials of virtual reality technology for user evaluation of a shunter locomotive driver cabin

Download

index.pdf

Date

2018

Author

Topcuoğlu, Oğuzhan

Metadata

Show full item record

Item Usage Stats

468
views

138
downloads

User evaluation is an important phase of vehicle design process. To evaluate a design, it needs to be presented to the user by using certain mediums such as physical prototypes, simulations, software analyses, or virtual prototypes. However, physical representation mediums, such as physical prototypes and simulations, have several disadvantages for user evaluation of large scale products like shunter locomotives. Primary disadvantage is that for such large products, physical prototypes and simulation setups require too much money and time. On the other hand, software analyses are suitable for gathering objective data through virtual user models, but not appropriate for obtaining subjective evaluations. As a solution, this thesis aims to explore the potentials of virtual reality (VR) technology as an alternative user evaluation medium by employing it in the design process of a shunter locomotive’s driver cabin. To do this, in this study, (1) literature review is conducted on shunter locomotives, and existing vehicle user evaluation methods and mediums for vehicle design, (2) interviews with professional locomotive operators are carried out to investigate user evaluation criteria for shunter locomotives, (3) a locomotive driver cabin is designed together with the preparation of its VR environment, and (4) through interviews with professional locomotive operators, evaluations of this cabin are performed based on previously identified user evaluation criteria by using the prepared VR environment. As a result of the study, advantages and disadvantages of using VR technology as an evaluation medium are identified. In user evaluations, VR have advantages in providing a realistic immersive experience, whereas for some users, it has disadvantages in terms of discomfort it creates during evaluation and its limitedness in providing realistic experience, thereby misleading some evaluations. Outcomes of the study can provide guidance on how VR technology can be used in user evaluations of vehicle design.

Subject Keywords

Locomotives., Virtual reality., Product design., Industrial design.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12622234/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/27382

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis

Suggestions

OpenMETU
Core

Analysing design processes: a study on graduation projects of industrial design students Acar, Gün; Hasdoğan, Gülay Fatma; Department of Industrial Design (2004) This study analyses students̕ design processes within a graduation project that is devised as to approximate a real-life design task. It comprises a literature search on developments in design methodology, and two field studies, a participant observation study followed by long interviews with a selection of the observation sample. Through the literature search, a framework representing the nature of the design activity is brought together on the basis of three studies in descriptive design methodology. Toge...
Industrial design and the mass customization of electronic consumer goods Kayğın Sel, Sultan; Pedgley, Owaın Francıs; Hasdoğan, Gülay Fatma; Department of Industrial Design (2013) Mass customization is promoted in manufacturing industry as a way to satisfy individual customer requirements in a flexible, efficient and cost effective way. However, mass customization within the specific sector of ‘electronic consumer goods’ is relatively underdeveloped, whilst the contributions of industrial designers to mass customization remain quite unclear. This research redresses both of these issues, elaborating on the possibilities of mass-customization in the electronic consumer goods sector, an...
User satisfaction related design recommendations for non-keyboard input devices in military Ürün Çınar, Duygu; Ünlü, Canan Emine; Department of Industrial Design (2014) Information on user satisfaction is a significant input for product design process. In order to measure user satisfaction related with the consumer products, many studies have been carried out by researchers. However, military products were not taken into account in most of these studies. This study aims to evaluate mouse, touchpad, hula pointer and trackball which are non-keyboard input devices (NKIDs) integrated in operator consoles as working areas in military in terms of user satisfaction. For this sake...
The role of user models in product design for assessment of user needs Hasdoğan, Gülay Fatma (1996-01-01) This paper elucidates the role of user models in the household product design process for the assessment of user needs. Based on field work which investigated the characteristics and qualities of user models employed by design practitioners working in England and Wales in 1991, it presents the benefits and limitations of a range of user models which are most relevant for design practitioners.
The dimensions of users' fun experiences with consumer products Cila, Nazlı; Erbuğ, Çiğdem; Department of Industrial Design (2008) User experience (UX) is a multi-dimensional user-product interaction involving positive and emotional usage. Fun experience is a component of UX which maintains distinctive dimensions. In this study these dimensions of the fun concept, namely the nature of the experience, the qualities of products that take place in the experience, and the emotional content of the fun experiences are investigated. The thesis is supported by arguments collected from the literature and the data from two empirical studies.

Citation Formats

O. Topcuoğlu, “Exploring the potentials of virtual reality technology for user evaluation of a shunter locomotive driver cabin,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2018.