Assessing emotion in interaction: Some problems and a new approach

This paper reviews some of the tools available for the measurement of emotion in product design. These tools are organized using the five components of emotion: feelings, expression, behavior, physiological activation and appraisal. Several problems specific to the measurement of user experience during interaction with products are also described and a coherent approach to address them is sketched. This approach includes several components: self-confrontation (video-supported self-report) to collect data about users’ feelings, using tangible interaction principles and approach/avoidance tendencies to map the quality of the experience on the device used to report it, psychophysiological and facial expression recording to provide continuous measures of emotional arousal and valence. Finally, questioning users about appraisal processes underlying their affective responses is recommended as a useful inspirational tool at the beginning of the design process.Industrial DesignIndustrial Design Engineerin