Kansei for the Digital Era

Abstract

For over 40 years, Kansei-based research and development have been conducted in Japan and other East Asian countries and these decades of research have influenced Kansei interpretation. New methods and applications, including virtual reality and artificial intelligence, have emerged since the millennium, as the Kansei concept has spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world. This paper reviews past literature and industrial experience, offering a comprehensive understanding of Kansei, the underlying philosophy, and the methodology of Kansei Engineering from the approach of psychology and physiology, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The breadth of Kansei is described by examples, emerging from both industry and academia. Additionally, thematic mapping of the state-of-the-art as well as an outlook are derived from feedback obtained from structured interview of thirty-five of the most distinguished researchers in Kansei. The mapping provides insights into current trends and future directions. Kansei is unique because it includes the consideration of emotion in the design of products and services. The paper aims at becoming a reference for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders across borders and cultures, looking for holistic perspectives on Kansei, Kansei Engineering, and implementation methods. The novelty of the paper resides in the unification of authors amongst pioneers from different parts of the world, spanning across diversified academic backgrounds, knowledge areas and industries.

Embedding Emotions in the Metaverse: The Emotive Keywords for Augmented Reality Mobile Library Application

“…The process leads to the categorization of user emotions as Kansei words (KWs), representing emotive keywords that encapsulate their feelings and perceptions regarding specific product design [38], [39]. These KWs manifest as adjectives [2] like attractive, happy, fun, frustrated, or bored, allowing for a precise characterization of the UX. KE emphasizes how design improvements may elevate user satisfaction and human-device interactions.…”

“…The field of emotive design has a strong connection to Kansei Engineering (KE) [1], a methodology originating from the domain of emotional design research to efficiently navigate the various emotions that individuals may experience throughout their interaction with a product. In the field of affective engineering, KE is widely recognized as a dynamic methodology that effectively interprets implicit emotions and transforms them into tangible attributes for products [2]. This unique ability refreshes the product design process by seamlessly integrating consumer emotions with innovation.…”

The Influence of the Public Lighting Environment on Local Residents’ Subjective Assessment

“…SD is a reliable and valid quantitative research method used to assess the affective connotations associated with concepts [85]. In KE research, SD is widely used to evaluate product perception [86][87][88][89][90]. KE operates on the premise that people's evaluations are influenced by stimuli, which consist of both objective and subjective parameters, as well as the conceptual schema of particular user groups (semantic space).…”