Application of virtual reality technologies in consumer product usability

Abstract

Users of consumer products have benefited from companies' growing interest in seeking technological innovation to improve their competitiveness and business performance. In this context, interface design represents an essential task in the product process development to directly influence customer satisfaction and, consequently, the success of the product in the market. Usability is about the product ease of use so it is necessary first and foremost to know who are the user / consumer and what their levels of requirements to serve them efficiently, this research has come to play an important role in interface design. Virtual reality (VR) technologies provide novel and enhanced modes for human computer interaction that can be used as a potential tool to provide product user experience and usability evaluation are more efficient, even in the early stages of the product design. This paper presents a conceptual approach to virtual reality technologies application in the evaluation of usability in consumer product design. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.