Objective Emotional Assessment of Industrial Products

Abstract

We developed an objective emotional assessment to detect subtle emotion-eliciting properties of products. Electrodermal activity, electrocardiogram, peripheral blood volume, and the activity of three facial muscles (zygomaticus, levator labii, corrugator) are continuously recorded, amended by subjective ratings of various emotional properties induced by interactions with the product. Among the physiological measures, finger pulse volume, skin conductance, and facial muscular activity were most sensitive in revealing tactile effects and their interactions with product worlds being introduced to generate a positive emotional experience. In particular, multivariate evaluation techniques were most successful in revealing subtle differences in products that could not be detected by a traditional sensory assessment.