Special Issue Article

Proc IMechE Part B:

J Engineering Manufacture
1–12
Improvement of user experience using Ó IMechE 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0954405417711736

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Hao Song1, Fangyuan Chen1, Qingjin Peng2, Jian Zhang1 and Peihua Gu1

Abstract
User experience has a significant impact on the effective product design and improvement, especially for a personalized
product to meet user’s individual need. The development of personalized products requires data from user experience
in the evaluation of the product function and performance. The existing methods of Internet-based interactive platforms
and direct market user surveys cannot provide users full experience of product features. This research proposes a user
interactive system based on virtual reality technologies to provide users a close-real experience in the development of
open-architecture products. The system provides users an interface built on the virtual environment. The users can
review a product design by virtually operating and evaluating the product. The system records users’ operations and
feedbacks for designers to improve the product. Food trucks designed using the open-architecture concept are used as
applications to verify the proposed method. A user survey is conducted to examine the system effectiveness.

Keywords
Product design, virtual reality, open-architecture product, interactive system, user experience

Date received: 17 August 2016; accepted: 2 May 2017

Introduction
A variety of products in the market can meet different
user requirements, which however increases cost of the
product. Open-architecture products (OAPs) were pro-
posed for a cost-effective solution to meet personalized
needs based on the existing manufacturing mode.1
OAPs allow product users to add personalized func-
tional modules in an original product to meet their
changeable requirements during the product lifespan.
The knowledge of users’ needs is essential in the devel-
opment of OAPs for the personalized functional mod-
ule.2 The current product development is mainly the
work of industries and product designers. There is not
enough involvement of users in the process of product
development. It is therefore necessary to have a new
way to allow users to participate in the process of prod-
uct development effectively.
The existing methods provide three ways for users to
involve in the process of product development. They
are interactive platforms based on the Internet, the
direct product experience, and the survey of product
users, respectively. The first and third methods cannot
provide the user real experience of product features
fully. The second way cannot be used in a large scale as
the time and cost required. Virtual reality (VR) tech-
nologies provide interactive environments for users to
obtain experience that is difficult to have in reality. VR
systems have been used in product design,3,4 process
evaluations,5–7 and manufacturing simulations.8,9
However, there is a lack of VR applications for the user
involvement in product development.
VR integrates technologies of the simulation, com-
puter graphics, human–machine interface, multimedia,
sensor and networks. VR hardware includes comput-
ers, tracking equipment, and input/output (I/O)
devices. Data gloves are commonly used in the human–
computer interaction of VR systems. Through the fin-
ger bend and the palm camber, the sensor can capture
positions and directions of hands for virtual hands to
control virtual objects in virtual environments. Besides
the visual perception of computer graphics, there are
1
Shantou University, Shantou, China
2
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Corresponding author:
Qingjin Peng, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5V6, Canada.
Email: Qingjin.Peng@umanitoba.ca
2 Proc IMechE Part B: J Engineering Manufacture 00(0)
other sensations in VR systems such as hearing, touch,
feel, and even smell and taste. The motion simulation
can animate moving of the human head, eyes, gestures,
or other actions corresponding to participants in a real
environment. Sensing devices support interactions
between users and products.
The development of VR technologies has made a lot
of progress in recent years with applications in various
fields.10 Using a VR system, virtual human models can
be built. With the aid of the track ball, head-mounted
device (HMD), and data gloves, users can easily under-
stand the structure of a product. The United States
Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects
agency has conducted a study called the SIMNET vir-
tual battlefield system since the 1980s to provide tank
joint training; the system can connect more than 200
simulators.11 VR has applications in manufacturing
called virtual manufacturing to investigate the dynamic
process of manufacturing systems.12 VR technologies
have also been used in the interior design, real estate
development, and industrial simulations.13–15
One of the purposes in VR applications is to form an
immersive environment to simulate details of a product
or process without the manufacturing cost occurred in
traditional methods.16 VR can improve the product
analysis and validation using digital product models.17
VR has been used in the product development and
improvement.18 VR can provide users a close-real expe-
rience in a cost-effective way to involve the users in the
process.19 Through the visual feedback and product
interaction, users can evaluate a product based on their
requirements.20 The VR technology was used to test
and verify the performance of products where the most
computer-aided design (CAD) systems cannot do.21 A
lot of efforts have been made by industries and research-
ers to meet users’ needs in products or processes.22 The
user involvement in the design process is the key for cus-
tomized products.23 There are many studies on the user
involvement in product design. Zhang et al.20 discussed
two methods to increase the degree of user involvements
in product design using the network platform and VR
systems. Li discussed the design of personalized toys for
different age users.24 Dai25 introduced an emotional
design method to the personalized product design.
Sun26 built an information flow model to study the
involvement of individuals and groups for the product
innovation. Tang27 studied methods for rapid responses
to the product customization. Wang28 described the
important role of user participations in the product
development and innovation.
The OAP was proposed in the 2013 annual confer-
ence theme report of International Academy for
Production Engineering (CIRP) as a new structure of
products. It uses functional modules from different
sources for the product adaptability to meet different
users’ need.29 An OAP is formed by officially approved
public common platforms and privately designed per-
sonalized modules.30 Characteristics of the OAP were
discussed by Zhang et al.31 Users can change
personalized functional modules of an OAP to meet
their individual needs. Big manufacturers produce the
product platform. Development of personalized mod-
ules can be conducted by small-sized industries or prod-
uct users.32 The OAP enable not only users to be the
product consumer but also developers of the product by
allowing them to participate in the design process. An
OAP therefore can result in the improved product per-
formance and reduced product cost to solve problems
in the development of personalized products.33
For industries to develop products using the OAP
concept, a cost-effective tool is required in the develop-
ment and improvement of the product functional mod-
ules with the user involvement.34 Current research
activities in design of the OAP mainly focus on the
integration of different methods,35 such as the analysis
of functional requirements based on the axiomatic
design,36 and the module division of an OAP based on
QFD (Quality Function Deployment) product mod-
ules.35 Two methods were proposed by Zhang et al.20
for the user involvement in product design. The first
method using a network platform cannot provide the
true experience of users for the product performance.
The users cannot decide whether the product meets
their need accurately. The second method uses VR, but
it can only show the result without the process detail of
users’ involvement. There were no details of informa-
tion of the user participation. It is therefore necessary
to have an effective method to improve the participat-
ing degree of users’ involvement in product design.
The evaluation of product assembly and disassembly
operations is also an important content in the OAP design
to ensure that the product is easily upgraded by users using
the personalized functional module. VR provides an ideal
tool for this purpose, such as interactive operations in VR
environments.36 An assembly navigation approach can
support human interactions in virtual environments to
achieve effective virtual assembly path planning.37–40 A
mixed VR disassembly environment can evaluate disas-
sembly sequences in the product development.41 A virtual
training system has been used to guide users in assembly
operations with haptics and visual fidelity.42
The method proposed in this research develops an
interactive VR system with functions of the user inter-
action, product model processing, function simulation,
user data recording, and analysis. It provides tools to
analyze details of users’ involvement in the OAP design.
The system can not only support users’ participation in
the OAP development but also provide data for OAP
developers to improve the product. It can also be used
in the operation simulation of upgrading personalized
modules. Food trucks designed using the OAP concept
are used in the case study to verify the proposed system.
In order to test the effectiveness of the proposed sys-
tem, a questionnaire survey is conducted by comparing
users’ experience in the knowledge and operations
before and after using the system. Participants with var-
ied ages and genders have no experience of using the
VR system and food truck. Both qualitative and
Song et al.
Figure 1. VR-based user interactive system.
quantitative questions are provided for the participants.
The statistical analysis of the questionnaire reveals that
the VR interactive system provides an ideal tool for
users in learning and experiencing.
VR-based user interactive system
The proposed system uses VR technologies in the
design of OAPs to improve the user experience.
Interactions are conducted between product models
and users for the product evaluation and improvement.
Figure 1 shows elements of the proposed user interac-
tive system.
The system consists of a user interactive interface, a
product processing module, a function simulation mod-
ule, and a data recording and analyzing module. Users
operate product models in the virtual environment to
experience the product, which includes the review and
operation of product models. Details of the system ele-
ments are explained as follows:
 User interactive interface. Users interact with prod-
uct models through VR devices. The interface fol-
lows users’ commands to display product
operations using VR functions to accomplish
Figure 2. VR devices.
3
different user requirements to experience the prod-
uct functions.
 Product model processing. Product models are
imported into the VR system with different func-
tional modules to be used in product operations.
The product models are stored in a product model
base.
 Function simulation. It performs interactive activi-
ties between users and product models and recog-
nizes users’ requirements and instructs VR system
operations to accomplish different interactions.
 Data recording and analysis. It records the process
of the user involvement and provides the feedback
to designers for the product improvement. Users’
needs and suggestions for the product improvement
are concluded through the data analysis.
User interactive interface
WorldViz VR devices used in the research for user
interactions with product models are shown in
Figure 2. Users conduct interactive actions of product
evaluations using two projection screens to form a vir-
tual simulation environment. The user interactive inter-
face is formed using the Python program in a
functional style to provide a functional-appearing inter-
face as shown in Figure 3. Product models are operated
by a user in the virtual environment through the inter-
active process until results are satisfied by the user. The
user can choose any part of a product for examinations
in the process of experience.
Product model processing
Product model processing in the system converts prod-
uct models into the function simulation models. The
models are stored in a model base for simulation opera-
tions. The product models are converted into a data
format used in the VR system. Details are built for
modules of OAPs required in the simulation, such as
module operations, configurations, and replacements.
4 Proc IMechE Part B: J Engineering Manufacture 00(0)
Figure 3. User interface.
Table 1. Data format and transformation.
Software Format
Step 1 SolidWorks .part ! .sat
Step 2 3ds Max .sat ! .osgb
Step 3 Vizard .osgb
Product models available in the system have to meet
user selections in the simulation.
After different product models are formed for the
interactive need, the system is ready for the user opera-
tion in the virtual environment. Along with applica-
tions of the interactive system, the number of models in
the product model base will continue to increase. It is a
continuous work for product model processing when
each time new models are added into the system.
Different product models are dynamically updated by
the model processing for the simulation need in the
product evaluation and improvement. The model for-
mat and data contents are listed in Table 1.
Design for user experience
Design for user experience is a key of the system appli-
cation. Users can be product designers, current and
potential product users, which require different con-
tents of the user experience. Current product users and
potential users may examine the product functions and
performances. Designers may experience product
details comprehensively including rationality of the
product structure and assembly details. Therefore, the
design for user experience includes following contents:
1. Different user preferences in product colors and
shapes for product’s appearance.
2. Product assembly and disassembly for user opera-
tions and for designers to develop the product.
3. Rationality of product structure and characteristics
of the structure by observing structure of a product
for upgrading product function modules.
Operation Data content
Modelling Size, shape
Modularity Color, texture
Simulation Position, action
4. Operation details of the product, such as driver’s
view of a car, the convenience of car operations,
and driver’s comfort in the car.
5. Product’s special performance such as the collision
effect.
Function simulation
Function simulation processes user interactions with
product models. The simulation identifies the user
operation to convert user’s requirements to instructions
for VR operations. One of its most important parts is
the motion capture system. The motion capture system
used in this research has a tracking mode with 6 degrees
of freedom, combined with functions of optical track-
ing and inertia positioning to obtain XYZ coordinates
of the motion object and the rotation angles of XYZ
three directions. The optical motion capture system
includes Precision Position Tracking (PPT) Wand, PPT
Processor, PPT Cameras, and PPT Eyes. PPT Wand is
a wireless handheld input device with 6 degrees of free-
dom to browse, navigate, select targets, and has other
interactive operations in the virtual environment com-
bined with PPT trackers. PPT Eye is a small, portable,
wireless motion tracking device that can be installed by
users. When it is used with WorldViz PPT action sys-
tem, users can browse the product model in the VR sys-
tem. PPT Processor is mainly used to process the
tracking data and transmit data in the VR system.
The response speed and precision of the function
simulation affect the simulation reality directly. The
Vizard VR package has the infrastructure built on
Open GL high-performance image processing software
Song et al.
to realize the rapid and efficient virtual environment
rendering. Users wear three-dimensional (3D) glasses
and PPT Eyes, holding a PPT Wand in the simulation
environment to have the product experience. In the
operation, the simulation processes interactions in real
time between product models and users according to
the simulation requirement. The simulation is pro-
cessed by a rendering system before the visualization is
projected onto screens. Different interactions can be
conducted between the user and VR system in the
simulation process. The interactive process is recorded
in the computer for the further analysis.
Data recording and analysis
Data recording and analysis record the process of
user’s participations and operation details and analyze
data for suggestions of user’s needs and the product
improvement. The process supports the product data
recording in the simulation process. The data recorder
uses the VR motion capture system. In the operation
process, data recorded can be real time displayed on
the screen. It can also generate a list of the data and
show locations of the operating part. The recorded
data are classed into different groups for the analysis.
Figure 4. Flowchart of the system.
5
Data analysis can identify the user personalized need
for the product improvement, especially for persona-
lized function modules.
During the user experience, the system automatically
generates two types of documents. One is for the level
of user’s satisfaction and the time used in the system
operation. The other document is the process of prod-
uct operations. Accurate locations of the tracker are
recorded in the simulation. These data are used to ana-
lyze users’ experience for designers to identify potential
problems in the design improvement.
The system implementation
The system is implemented using the computer Python
language under the WorldViz VR system. Figure 4
shows the program flowchart. When the program
starts, the configuration runs to connect VR devices
such as the PPT Wand and glasses. A VR interface
shows to the user for operations. The system then loads
in models for the user to operate the product in the VR
environment. The system data flow contains series-
parallel data with the unidirectional and bidirectional
flows in the interactive system. The data interact with
various product models. For example, the function
6 Proc IMechE Part B: J Engineering Manufacture 00(0)
simulation passes the data according to user’s opera-
tions to the computer, and then the computer controls
the user interactive interface to generate operations. In
the process, the data mainly flow between product
models and components in the computer, at the same
time, the computer will pass results to the user through
the user interactive interface. After that, the data flow
is mainly from the product model processing to the
simulation operation. The simulation handles data to
show results through the user interface. Some data flow
from the simulation to data recording and analyzing
processes.
Case study
Food trucks have a variety of structures to offer differ-
ent functions based on the food for sales. There are over
5000 food trucks providing 1.2 million different kinds
of meals a day from halal food to hot dogs in streets of
New York at the end of year 2015.27,30 There is also an
increasing demand for food trucks in China to meet dif-
ferent needs. For requirements of consumers and regu-
lators, the design and production of food trucks using
the open-architecture concept provides an ideal solution
for the fast food industry.
The food truck is proposed as a typical OAP using
common platform modules, customized function mod-
ules, and personalized modules as shown in Figure 5.
Parts formed by chassis, motor, and steering systems
are common platform modules applied for all different
food trucks, made by original manufacturers. They will
not be changed in the product use phase. The custo-
mized function modules are parts of the truck body
including the truck body, doors and windows, and so
on, which can be customized by users with the manu-
facturer. The body can have different shapes and col-
ors. Personalized function modules include cabinets,
grills and gas tanks, and so on. These personalized
modules can be produced by different manufacturers
or supplied by users. The combination of these modules
forms a personalized food truck based on user’s prefer-
ence to meet user’s individual need. A user can experi-
ence a variety of product performances in the proposed
system through the interactive operation proposed in
this research.
Experience in different user preferences in product colors and
shapes for product’s appearance. A user can select differ-
ent shapes and colors of the food truck according to
the individual need. The user observes the shape and
color of the truck from different distances and perspec-
tives in the VR environment. The color and shape can
be changed using the VR device wand. There are six
colors designed for the truck. The color of different
parts can be changed by the user as shown in Figure 6.
Experience in product assembly and disassembly. The food
truck and its modules can be simulated for the
assembly and disassembly to check the feasibility of
upgrading modules or train operators as shown in
Figure 7.
Experience in the rationality of product structure and character-
istics of the structure. This operation observes the prod-
uct structure for upgrading product functional
modules. Users can select a variety of personalized
modules according to the individual requirements in
the VR environment. The PPT Wand is used to operate
various kinds of kitchen appliances. An object becomes
the light green when a virtual hand is closed to the
object. The selected object can be moved with the vir-
tual hand when the user presses a trigger of the wand.
The user releases the trigger key when the object is
reached the specified location. Figure 8 shows the selec-
tion and placement of personalized function modules.
Experience in the product operation. Users can experience
the food truck in the operation simulation. User’s per-
spective is fixed in driver’s position but the angle of
view can be changed. The user can experience driving
the food truck through controlling moving directions.
At the same time, the driving speed can be adjusted.
Figure 9 shows the simulation of different driving
speeds.
Experience in product’s performance in some special
needs. The truck performance can be simulated in
some special circumstances, such as colliding objects.
Based on the quality, density, friction coefficient, accel-
eration of gravity, and other physical quantities of the
truck and objects, the user can see different collision
effects by setting different physical quantities. Figure
10 shows a screenshot of the simulation.
Therefore, users can have an in-depth understanding
of the food truck performance using the proposed
interactive system, which enhanced the user participa-
tion in the product design process. When a user experi-
ences the product, the interactive system records a
series of data, such as users’ selections of the custo-
mized function modules and corresponding colors,
locations of the personalized modules in the system.
Designers can clearly understand the user needs based
on these data and then design a food truck to meet the
user’s requirement.
System evaluation
A questionnaire survey method is used to evaluate the
effectiveness of the proposed system by comparing
users’ experience before and after using the interactive
system. Prior to the experiment, 15 participants with
varied ages and genders were given a brief verbal intro-
duction to the experiment. Due to the lack of knowl-
edge on the VR-based interactive system, the
participants were provided a training program of the
Song et al.
Figure 5. Food trucks and function modules.
system to learn the PPT Wand and system operations.
They were then asked to experience the product model
in the system and then to complete a questionnaire
about their experience of the food truck. In the ques-
tionnaires listed in Appendix 1, the subjects were asked
to give scores (ranging from 0 for ‘‘unknown’’ to 100
for ‘‘well known’’) about the experience. Data collected
from the questionnaires are analyzed to evaluate the
system performance. In addition, the subjects were also
asked to comment advantages and disadvantages of the
system.
7
Using the statistical analysis in the SPSS software,
the Cronbach’s alpha is calculated to test reliability and
internal consistency for rating questions in the ques-
tionnaires. The t-test is used to find the statistically sig-
nificant difference of mean scores between before and
after using the system. Through the data analysis, both
of questionnaires get a high Cronbach’s alpha (0.733)
and (0.8233), respectively, which means that the scale of
the questions has a high level of the reliability and inter-
nal consistency in the both questionnaires. Figure 11
shows one of the results.
8 Proc IMechE Part B: J Engineering Manufacture 00(0)
Figure 6. Selection of shapes and colors.
Figure 7. Simulation of the assembly and disassembly.
Figure 8. Selection and placement of personalized function
modules.
Figure 12 shows the mean scores, difference of two
mean scores, and quantity of subjects of Question 1 in
the two questionnaires. It is to test users’ experience in
colors and shapes for the food truck. A statistically sig-
nificant difference was found before and after the expe-
rience of the interactive system, p-value \ 0.05.
Therefore, it indicates that the users’ experience for the
food truck has been significantly improved after using
the system.
Figure 9. Experience in different driving speeds.
Table 2 displays scores of Question 2 about the expe-
rience of assembly and disassembly of the food truck
and shows scores of Question 3 about the experience
degree of the structure for the food truck. There is a sta-
tistically significant effect of the interactive system on
the both understanding of the food truck configuration,
p \ 0.05, and learning of the assembly and disassem-
bly, p \ 0.05. Therefore, the results suggest that users
acquire not only understanding of the food truck
Song et al.
Figure 10. Simulation of the collision.
structure but also experience of assembly and disassem-
bly of the food truck.
For Questions 4 and 5 in Table 2, the former is for
the cognition degree of operating food trucks and the
latter is to evaluate users’ cognition performance in
some special needs for food trucks. It reveals that users
got understanding of the operation, p \ 0.05, and per-
formance, p \ 0.05, through the interactive system.
In the open questions, 80.0% of participants com-
ment that the interactive system creates a friendly and
realistic-learning environment and an almost truly
experiencing environment. Using a wand to operate the
virtual food truck largely increases the learning and
experience interest. Some of them also proposed that it
would be more confident to operate the food truck
through the interactive system training. However,
55.3% of participants mentioned that it is not easy to
Figure 11. Cronbach’s alpha of Question 1.
9
catch the certain virtual parts accurately and quickly in
the operation using the VR device.
In conclusion, the statistical analysis reveals that the
proposed system in this research creates an effective
learning and experiencing environment, which signifi-
cantly improves user involvements in the product
design and evaluation. The majority of participants
agree that the VR-based system provides a user-
friendly, cost-effective, safe, and highly interactive
learning and experiencing environment.
Conclusion
It is essential for designers to understand users’ require-
ments and changeable demands in the development of
personalized products. An effective user interface is
important for users to experience product in the prod-
uct development and improvement. Current practices
of the product development are mainly the work of
product developers. There is a lack of users’ involve-
ments in the process. VR technologies provide a close-
real environment to improve the user participation in
the product development. VR enables users to involve
a design process and evaluate the product performance
for their requirements, which provides an ideal tool for
the OAP design to achieve the personalized product
performance with the reduced cost. The goal of this
research was the development of a VR-enable user
interactive system to improve user’s involvement in the
OAP development. The proposed system considered
the need in the user experience of a product. The user
interactive system provides functions of the user inter-
action to product models, the process simulation, and
10 Proc IMechE Part B: J Engineering Manufacture 00(0)

Figure 12. The t-test result of Questionnaire 1.

Table 2. T-test results of Questions 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Mean (before) Mean (after) Mean (difference) N p

Question 2 40.27 71.47 31.2 15 \ 0.05

Question 3 48.00 64.60 16.6 15 \ 0.05
Question 4 46.73 70.60 23.867 15 \ 0.05
Question 5 40.00 57.00 17.0 15 \ 0.05

user data process for details of users’ involvement. The
system can support both the user participation and
product developers for their different needs in the prod-
uct development. It can also be used in the operation
simulation of upgrading personalized modules. The
user survey shows the archived goal of the proposed
system.
Further work of this research will consider different
factors in the system to improve the interactive func-
tions, and apply the proposed system in different prod-
ucts for the system further evaluation and improvement.
Declaration of conflicting interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest
with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publi-
cation of this article.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following finan-
cial support for the research, authorship, and/or
publication of this article: The authors wish to
acknowledge that this research has been supported by
the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(Grant No. 51375287, 51505269) and Discovery Grants
(RGPIN-2015-04173) of the Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.
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40. Ng LX, Wang ZB, Ong SK, et al. Integrated product After the experience of the VR-based interactive sys-
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42. Jiang W, Zheng JJ, Zhou HJ, et al. A new constraint- trucks.
based virtual environment for haptic assembly training. 2. The cognition degree of the assembly and disas-
Adv Eng Softw 2016; 98: 58–68. sembly for food trucks.
3. The cognition degree of the structure for food
trucks.
Appendix 1
4. The cognition degree of the use process for food
Before using the VR-based user interactive system, trucks.
please mark following questions from 0 for ‘‘unknown’’ 5. The cognition degree of performance in some spe-
to 100 for ‘‘well known’’: cial needs for food trucks.

1. The cognition degree of colors and shapes about

Open-ended questions are as follows:
food trucks.
2. The cognition degree of the assembly and disas-
sembly for food trucks. 1. What did you enjoy the most in using the virtual
3. The cognition degree of the structure for food reality (VR) interactive system?
trucks. 2. What did you enjoy the least in using the VR inter-
4. The cognition degree of the use process for food active system?
trucks.
5. The cognition degree of performance in some spe-
cial needs for food trucks.