The Usability Group at Helsinki University of Technology has been doing usability tests for companies as part of the research projects and education since 1991. Since that time, we have participated various projects concerning human-computer interaction and usability.
Most of us work in the Laboratory of Information Processing Science and some in the Laboratory of Work and Organizational Psychology. Some of us have also studied cognitive psychology and graphical design. We have a Usability Laboratory offering comprehensive usability services. The laboratory room that we have is highly equipped and especially designed for usability testing.
The group is lead by professor Martti Mäntylä. Other members of our usability group are Marja-Riitta Koivunen (on leave in 1997), Sari Kujala (on maternity leave till August 1997), Marko Nieminen (Laboratory of Industrial Economics and Industrial Psychology), Jarmo Parkkinen, Sirpa Riihiaho and Irmeli Sinkkonen.
Figure 6: A view from the observation room to the testing room
Projects: Usability 2The first Usability project was started in 1993 by SETELI. Three research institutes participated in the research work: Helsinki University of Technology, Technical Reseach Center of Finland and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The goal of the the project was to find out, what usability methods and tools were used at that time and what could be used in the Finnish industry to improve the competitiveness of their products.
The main aim of the Usability 2 project was to help the pilot companies to utilize usability methods and tools. The project was divided into three subprojects:
The project started in summer 1995 and ended at 31 December 1996. The HUT part of this research is performed by Marja-Riitta Koivunen and Marko Nieminen. The project is funded by TEKES.
Usability ClinicIn 1995, a Usability Clinic was founded with the support of TEKES. The Usability Laboratory at HUT is one part of this network. The idea is to offer companies comprehensive usability services and make usability issues well known among Finnish companies. Usability knowledge that has been gathered in various projects is utilized in the tests and new information and experiences are gained.
Usability clinic has tested various Finnish products for their usability. The results of the tests are confidential but the methods that have been used and developed are public.
The work at HUT was done by the Usability Group. Researchers working in this project include from the HUT Irmeli Sinkkonen, Marja-Riitta Koivunen and Sirpa Riihiaho. The project started at 1 January 1995 and will end at 31 December 1997.
Smart Product - A multi-disciplinary approach to user interface designThe project dealt with the problems that users of the complicated information technology face both at work and at home. New products with more and more functionality are developed and their use becomes harder and harder. This project tried to solve problems related to the usability of these interactive devices, the design of their user interfaces and their usability testing.
The collaborative research project of the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH) and the Department of Computer Science at Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) was financed by the Academy of Finland for 1995 - 96. The project was carried out in conjunction with companies manufacturing smart products (Halton Systems, KONE Elevators, Oras, Polar Electro and Teleste). The project started at 1 January 1995 and ended at 15 November 1996.
The themes for research included:
The leader of the research project was professor Juhani Salovaara, UIAH, and the part of HUT was lead by professor Martti Mäntylä. In 1995, assistant professor Marja-Riitta Koivunen led the part of HUT.
Smart Products project has established the research on usability and user interface design both at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and Helsinki University of Technology. The project started a close co-operation between the universities. The reasearch group has participated in domestic and international research and product development projects related to design of interactive products. New projects have been initiated and are starting in 1997.
Usability of Smart Products in Information SocietyThe research project started at 1 November 1996 and will end at 31 October 1999. This project continues the research done in Smart Products project. Leaders of the project are professor Martti Mäntylä (HUT) and professor Juhani Salovaara (UIAH). Researchers working in this project are Lic.A. Turkka Keinonen (UIAH), M.A.(Psych.) Sari Kujala (HUT), M.Sc.(Eng.) Marko Nieminen (HUT), M.Sc.(Eng.) Sirpa Riihiaho (HUT), M.Sc. Irmeli Sinkkonen and M.A. Simo Säde (UIAH). The project is funded by The Academy of Finland.
Partners of this project are Department of Industrial Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH) and Laboratory of Work Psychology and Leadership at HUT.
Major problems in modern society arise from the possibilities new technology offers. The use of new techology becomes more and more critical as citizens try to affect to their environment and society. Still, almost everyone tends to run into problems when using devices and services meant for wide audience of consumers.
Usability is a way to affect the technology towards more human direction. It stresses for small details that have major influence. Usability approach can be used to develop tools for information society.
The objectives of the project are characterized by the following questions:
The project consists of six work packages that cover the following topics: