Section: New Results
Neuroergonomy
Participants : Jérémy Frey, Martin Hachet, Fabien Lotte
3D user interfaces are increasingly used in a number of applications, spanning from entertainment to industrial design. However, 3D interaction tasks are generally more complex for users since interacting with a 3D environment is more cognitively demanding than perceiving and interacting with a 2D one. As such, it is essential that we could finely evaluate user experience, in order to propose seamless interfaces. To do so, a promising research direction is to measure users' inner states based on brain signals acquired during interaction, by following a neuroergonomics approach. Combined with existing methods, such tool can be used to strengthen the understanding of user experience.
In [15][26], we reviewed the related work in this area. We summurized what has been achieved and the new challenges that arise. We described how a mobile brain imaging technique such as electroencephalography (EEG) brings continuous and non-disruptive measures. EEG-based evaluation of users can give insights about multiple dimensions of the user experience, with realistic interaction tasks or novel interfaces. We investigate four constructs: workload, attention, error recognition and visual comfort. Ultimately, these metrics could help to alleviate users when they interact with computers.
Such advance in the understanding of the users will eventually come forward thanks to the increasing dissemination of non-invasive brain imaging devices that record electrical activity onto the scalp. In [24][23] we compared side by side two EEG amplifiers, the consumer grade OpenBCI and the medical grade g.tec g.USBamp. We suggested how an affordable and open-hardware device could facilitate, beside neuroergomomics, the appearance of various brain-computer interfaces applications.