U s e r C e n t r e d P a s s i v e B u i l d i n g D e s i g n
425
For users experience in the passive building design process, we adopt a definition based
on Hassenzahl and Tractinsky (2006). Their definitions include all of the attributes shown
in Fig. 4.
In addition, it includes issues such as the user context; the design attributes the
context of use and their interaction with each other. We define the end user experience
in passive building design as that [the characteristics of the designed passive buildings
that enhance user predispositions, expectations, needs, motivation, mood, etc, through
the consideration of design constructs of functionality, performance, usability, flexibility,
reliability and maintainability in a way that make the end-users feel in control of their
living environment]. It is clear from the adopted definition that the characteristics of the
designed passive buildings that are based on the design constructs are the basis by
which end-user needs are identified and integrated into design. The next section will
discuss and explain theory behind these processes.
User Centred design Theory:
User centred design, as a theory is developed to meet user aspirations and wishes. This
theory has been used to design software and websites to meet ever-evolving users
needs. The theory is defined as
“user centered design is a broad term, used to describe
a design philosophy and a variety of methods in which the needs, wants, and limitations
of end users are placed at the centre of attention at each stage of the design process”
(
Uckelmann et al, 2011, p.68). The aim of UCD is to fulfil users needs by providing an
application that fulfil these needs as stated by (Prähofer et al., 2002, P.1)
“users are
able to customize and adapt the software systems in use to their particular needs at
hand, so that they can perform their work more efficiently and effectively”
. In addition to
that, variouse standards have been established to provide guidines for the application of
this theory. Among these standadrs are ISO 13407 and ISO 9126.
Because of their
importance to our study, they are briely a explaned in the subsquent sections
.
ISO 13407:
This standard depicts the process of designing the product. The process i sued by
designers to make sure that the user asperstions are met. The process is devided into
six stages (ISO 13407 ,1999) as shown in the Fig 5.
The stages of standad are defined by Jokela et al. (2003) in table 1:
Table 1: The description of the UCD process
No
Stage name
Discription of the stage
1
Specify the context of
use:
This stages about understanding and specifiying user , usage domain and the
ideification what is the resaon behind designing the product
2
Specify User and
Organizational
Requirements:
This is to increase the knowledge of understanding the design requirement
through specification, which makes the factors easier for the end user.
3
Produce
design
solutions
Specifying the attributes that could integart the user factors
4
Evaluate
Designs
against Requirements
Assessment satge to see if the designer has been meet user needs
Figure 5: ISO 13407 UCD
process