assessing the attractiveness of interactive systems
Qualities beyond usefulness and traditional usability are increasingly being recognised as important in HCI. A common understanding of which factors affect the overall user experience and how they interrelate is still to be established. In a theory-led approach, users' perceptions of qualities that together contribute to the overall 'attractiveness' of a system are investigated. An empirical study with three live websites from Stanford University demonstrates a halo effect of aesthetics on perceptions of usability and content. However, the perception and impact of aesthetics are significantly affected by users' backgrounds and tasks.
attractiveness user experience aesthetics interaction design