Authors:
Daniel Fallman, Linda Bogren, Catharina Henje

Abstract:
While we argue that a deficient interest in product semantics, aesthetical expression, and form may further come to increase the stigmatization some users already experience in society due to their impairment or age, the current inclusive design literature however rarely discusses these issues. In this paper, we describe how we have worked with and focused specifically on product semantics in an inclusive design project commissioned by the Swedish Railroad Administration with the objective to design and implement a prototype of a train information terminal providing accessible information to as wide an audience as possible. We approached product semantics using three zones of user engagement with the product; the attract zone, i.e. the distance from which the product makes itself known and from where it may be seen and identified for what it is within a particular environment; the inform zone, where potential users get increasingly confident in that the device they are approaching will assist them with what they want to achieve; and the interact zone, where users feel invited to come close to, touch, start to interact, and explore the product.

Keywords:
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Citation:
Bogren, L., Fallman, D. & Henje, C. (2009) Attract, Inform, and Interact: Working with Product Semantics in an Inclusive Design Project, Proceedings of IASDR 2009, International Association of Societies of Design Research, Oct. 18-22, Seoul, Korea.

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