User experience in human-technology interaction
In human-technology interaction, the experience and evaluation of the user, the so-called user experience, are central. According to the definition in DIN ES ISO 9241-210, the term user experience encompasses all experiences when interacting with a product, system or service. In addition to the current experience, this includes expectations for possible future use. Nowadays, we encounter a wide variety of technical applications and information technologies in almost all areas of life and they are subject to constant change; the coronavirus pandemic has given digitalisation a further major boost. As a result, the study of user experience brings together disciplines such as labour science, design, ergonomics, computer science, engineering, psychology and economics. The central questions of our research in this area are
- How people perceive technology and interactive technologies,
- how these experiences can be captured and
- the consequences of user experience for users and organisations.
In research on the perception of interactive technologies, it is crucial to measure the experience of technology and media in a psychometrically appropriate and valid way. We have developed and validated a series of standardised questionnaire instruments to measure aspects of user experience such as content, usability, aesthetics and credibility. The Visual Aesthetics of Websites Inventory (VisAWI; Moshagen & Thielsch, 2010) in particular has attracted a great deal of attention both in research and in practice, both nationally and internationally. The analysis and recording of basic perception processes is followed by the question of the consequences of user experience for users and organisations. In doing so, we focus on the effects on personal experience, attitudes, behaviour and work performance.
Another central part of our work is dedicated to the topic of trust and its relevance in the use of digital information systems and technologies.
Selected publications:
Moshagen, M. & Thielsch, M. T. (2010). Facets of visual aesthetics. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 68 (10), 689-709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2010.05.006
Thielsch, M. T. & Hirschfeld, G. (2019). Facets of website content. Human-Computer Interaction, 34 (4), 279-327.https://doi.org/10.1080/07370024.2017.1421954
Thielsch, M. T., Meeßen, S. M. & Hertel, G. (2018). Trust and Distrust in Information Systems at the Workplace. PeerJ, 6:e5483. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5483 [open access]
Von der Linde, M., Göcke, M., Hirschfeld, G. & Thielsch, M. T. (in press). Check or reject? Trust and motivation losses in app-based warning systems. Safety Science.
