2C2-3 An Empirical Analysis of the Design Variables affecting User Satisfaction for the Operation of Automotive Switch

Abstract

The aim of this research is to figure out design variables that have an effect on user satisfaction for the operation of automotive switch and to investigate the relative importance of the variables and the utility of attribute level. To achieve these goals, an empirical evaluation was made through operating of automotive switchs. First, five design variables were selected for the external design elements and the internal design variables of switch were chosen based on the opinions of design experts and previous studies. Next, an experiment was designed using the fractional factorial design for 18 alternatives by 5 design variables (stroke, peak force, drop force, angle of surface, and curvature) that affect user satisfaction. Then, the level of satisfaction of each alternative were evaluated on 100-point scale by 22 subjects. Finally, ANOVA was conducted to verify the significant level of the 5 design variables of the automotive switch. A conjoint analysis was used to investigate the relative importance of each design variable by the utility of attribute level. As a result, the design variables turned out to be of significant importance. Moreover, the result showed relative importance for each design variable and utility of attribute level. It is expected that the results of this study could be utilized to improve the affective quality of the automotive switch.

An Ergonomic Shape Design for Automotive Push-Return Switches

“…The button operating force was decreased till 20° and then increased from the angle of 30°, while subjective satisfaction was increased until the switch angle was at 20°, followed by a decrease at 30° (Park and Jung, 2014). In addition, in the preceding researches that drew relative importance among stroke, peak force, and drop force, which are internal factors of switches, surface shape, which is an external factor, and switch angle, external factors occupied 44.85% among 100% of the feel of operation (Choi et al, 2015). The results indicate that shape as an external factor affects largely the feel of operation as much as internal factors.…”

“…Based on research outcomes, the factors that affected the feel of environment inside the cars among external factors of switch were selected. The selected factors were inclined angle of switch from the car center fascia and curvature of the switch such as convex, flat, and concave degrees of surface of the switch (Choi et al, 2015). Analysis…”

“…By reviewing preceding research results that investigated the physical characteristics of commercial switches and those proposing the relative importance of parameters that affected the feel of operation, stroke was set at 0.65~1.15mm, peak force at 2.5~3.5N, and drop force at 1.00~1.75N as internal factors (Choi et al, 2015).…”