JP5530861B2 - Product development design support tool or product development design support device and image display method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a product development design support tool or a product development design support apparatus that extracts a favorable layout desired by a subject with respect to the layout of operation switches and devices as a base, and an image display method thereof.

  Conventionally, a method called protocol analysis has been used as a method for evaluating the operability of devices such as home appliances. This is because several users actually use the device alone or in parallel, and the situation is recorded and recorded with video, etc., and the time and operation spent by the user on the basis of the recording In the case of being confused and in the case of simultaneous parallel, the user's mutual conversation is also analyzed in detail. In addition, a questionnaire about operability is taken from many users.

  However, in protocol analysis and questionnaires, devices that are actually operated by the user must be prepared, and thus cannot be evaluated when the devices are not yet completed. In addition, when many types of operability are experimentally evaluated at the design stage, it is necessary to create so many prototypes, and there are significant restrictions in terms of cost and time.

  Therefore, in the prior art, a list of devices, operation components that need to be operated in order to demonstrate the functions of the devices, and the number of operations is created as a list, and the frequency of each function according to the type of user, each operation component A method has been proposed in which an operation part or the like that is frequently an operation target is found in consideration of an operation time per operation and the like, and then, the material and arrangement of the operation part are examined.

  Further, in this conventional example, as a device for grasping the operation frequency, a transparent tablet is fixed and closely attached to the upper surface of the liquid crystal display, and the contents of various operations intended by the operator are determined based on the position of the operator touching the tablet. A support device has also been proposed in which an operation input to a device can be performed.

JP-A-8-77220

  However, in this prior art, focusing on the operation frequency of the operation switches, the operation switch is arranged at a position where the developer can easily use the one with high operation frequency. However, in the arrangement of operation switches such as a washing machine exemplified in the prior art, the operability is roughly known from the past accumulation, so the developer may arrange it at a convenient position. it can.

  However, in the arrangement of each device such as a new product, an operation panel composed of many operation switches, or an operation panel operated by a specialist engineer, there are cases where it is difficult for a developer to draw up a request regarding an actual user arrangement. For example, in the operation panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, many operation switches are arranged in addition to a special coordinate indicating device called a trackball. In such an operation panel operated by a specialized user, it is difficult for the developer to grasp the operational feeling associated with the arrangement desired by the user, and much time is required for development.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a product development design support tool or product development design support device that extracts a request for favorable placement related to operation switches and equipment placement desired by a subject, and an image display method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, a product development design support tool according to the present invention is a product development design support tool for extracting an improvement plan related to the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects, and has a full size. A base part and a part group having a full-size size that is movably provided on the base part, and the base part has a mark whose color tone is different from that of the part group as a part to be compared. In preparation for the initial position of the group, there is provided recording means for recording the movement of the subject who has changed the position of the part group from the mark .

Further, the product development design support device according to the present invention is a product development design support device that extracts an improvement plan related to the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects, and is a thin type that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated A display unit; a touch panel disposed on the thin display unit; a storage unit that stores various data; and a control unit that comprehensively controls the product development design support device. A survey target DB that stores target image data and a survey record DB that records survey results are provided. The survey target DB has a part image group that is set to be movable and a color tone different from that of the part image group. And a base image provided with an initial position of a part image group to be compared, and the control unit includes a full-sized base image on the thin display unit and a front of the base image. A full-size part image group arranged on the mark is displayed in an overlapping manner, and the movement accompanying the drag operation of the part image group is accepted via the touch panel, and the movement is performed with the position where the touch is released as the movement destination. The result is stored in the survey record DB, and the input of the reason for the movement heard from the subject is received corresponding to the movement destination coordinates and stored in the survey record DB.

Further, the image display method of the product development design support apparatus according to the present invention includes a thin display unit that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, a touch panel arranged on the thin display unit, and various data. An image display method for a product development design support apparatus that includes a storage unit for storage and a control section that controls the product development design support apparatus in an integrated manner, and extracts improvement plans regarding the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects. In the thin display unit, a full-size base image and a full-size part image group arranged on a mark attached to a predetermined position of the base image are overlaid and displayed via the touch panel. accept the movement associated with the part image group of the drag operation, the touch moves displaying the part image group positions was released as the destination, touch and releases for said part image group The drag operation time satisfying scan of time to perform the warning display when in excess of a predetermined time.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of subjects can actually rearrange the parts group (parts image group) arranged on the full-sized base part (base image) to obtain an arrangement of favorite parts group. Rearrangement data can be collected and used for product development.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a product development design support tool according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a data block diagram of the product evaluation support tool which concerns on Example 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of product development design support according to Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of product development design support according to the second embodiment. It is a screen transition diagram of product development and design support according to the second embodiment according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a product development design support tool or product development design support apparatus and an image display method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a product development design support tool according to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 5 show a product development design support apparatus and a product development design support method according to the second embodiment.

  First, a product development design support tool according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the product development design support tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram of the product development design support tool according to the first embodiment.

  First, in FIG. 1, a product development design support tool 1 according to this embodiment includes a base unit 100 that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, and parts that include operation switches arranged on the base unit 100. A group 200, a camera unit 300 that captures images of the base unit 100, and an information processing device 400 that performs various recording and reproduction operations are configured.

  In this embodiment, by having many subjects 5 actually rearrange the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, it is possible to collect data on the arrangement of good parts groups 200 desired by many subjects 5. The main focus.

  In other words, conventional survey methods for subjects in usability and design development often use survey methods in which multiple products are actually used by existing subjects and prototype models, and the opinions of these multiple subjects are reflected in product development. ing. Therefore, when investigating the appropriate arrangement of operation switches and devices, it is necessary to prepare several prototype models and conduct investigations using these multiple models, which increases development time and development costs. was there.

  In the product development design support tool 1 according to this embodiment, instead of the conventional investigation method for some prototype models presented from the design side, the improvement proposal regarding the arrangement of the equipment of the products is presented from a plurality of subjects. Like that. However, it is not possible for a subject to propose an improvement plan suddenly. Therefore, in the present invention, a model having one basic arrangement is presented to the subject, and the rearrangement is made to the most convenient arrangement for the subject based on the experience of the subject so far, starting from the arrangement of the model. The survey method was adopted.

  In order to realize this investigation method, the product development design support tool 1 reproduces the arrangement of parts group 200 (operation switches) to be investigated on the base unit 100 and reproduces it on many subjects 5. Each observer 5 rearranges the parts group 200 in the desired arrangement, and the observer 7 who observes the rearrangement situation and the rearrangement result while recording the rearrangement state and the rearrangement result in the rearrangement work, Alternatively, after the rearrangement, the questions and answers are recorded in the information processing apparatus 400 while adding questions about the reasons for changing the arrangement.

  In order to correctly evaluate the arrangement to be investigated, the base unit 100 has the same size as the arrangement to be investigated and the initial position 101 of the parts group to be investigated is a mark or a real object so that it can be used repeatedly. It is attached in a large size. For example, in the base unit 100 of this embodiment, the outer shape and name of each part from part A to part M are attached to each position to be investigated. Thereby, since the parts group 200 can be arrange | positioned in the predetermined | prescribed position of the base part 100, it can be used repeatedly on the same conditions.

  The parts group 200 is formed by grouping operation switches for each functional unit to be investigated, and having an outer shape thereof. For example, parts A, parts B, and C are formed with their outer dimensions as track balls and operation buttons. In addition, the part D is formed as a keyboard composed of a plurality of keys, or the part M is formed as a slide knob composed of a slide groove and a slide knob with the outer dimensions thereof.

  In addition, the base unit 100 and the part group 200 in this embodiment are used to photograph an existing product or a prototype model with a camera, print it out to the actual size, and use this as the base unit 100 or the part group 200. Can do. That is, it is possible to prepare two parts printed out to the actual size, use one as the base unit 100, and make the parts group 200 by hollowing out each part from the other one. In this case, in order to make the discrimination between the rearranged parts group 200 favorable, the base portion 100 and the parts group 200 to be printed out have different colors. For example, the base part 100 to be printed out is output in black and white, and the parts group 200 is output in an actual color tone. This makes it possible to distinguish between the basic sequence to be investigated and the rearranged sequence.

  The camera unit 300 may be a still image camera that captures the final result of the rearranged array. However, the camera unit 300 may capture and record the rearrangement process on the base unit 100 from the start of the survey of the subject to the end of the survey. It is more effective. Thereby, the thought process of the subject's rearrangement can be recorded.

  The information processing apparatus 400 can use an extremely general personal computer. According to this information processing apparatus, the survey results of a plurality of subjects 5 can be made into a database.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a survey result database created by the information processing apparatus 400 using the product evaluation support tool 1 will be described.

  In FIG. 2, in this survey result DB, a data sheet 500 is created for each subject 5. In this data sheet 500, each part constituting the part group 200 is finally moved from the basic position (coordinates) to the original movement position (coordinates) to which movement position (coordinates) and the movement reason of the subject 5 as a pair. To record. For example, the part A at the basic position AXY records the AEXY position of the movement position E that finally moved, and the AER that is the reason E. Thereby, the movement position E of each part which comprises the part group 200 and the reason which each test subject 5 desires can be recorded.

  Here, in this embodiment, the thinking process of the subject 5 can be recorded. This progress can be input to the information processing apparatus 400 by the camera unit 300 that captures and records moving images and the observer 7 each time.

  One of the points for recording the thought progress is the midway position until the final movement position. In this embodiment, the movement position in the middle can be recorded together with the movement reason. Thereby, it is possible to grasp the thinking process of the subject 5 who is at a loss.

  Specifically, when the observer 7 designates with the information processing apparatus according to the movement state of the subject 5, the position of the part captured by the camera unit 300 is recorded as an intermediate movement position or a final movement position. When the movement position 1 or the like is designated by the observer 7, the information processing apparatus 400 receives an input of the reason and records this.

  Alternatively, as a result of processing the image captured by the camera unit 300, the movement is stopped for a certain time, and it is detected by the image processing technique that the movement is stopped again, and the coordinates at that time are specified as the moving position in the middle. Further, the coordinates at which the movement is stopped for a time longer than the above-described fixed time, the coordinates at which the subject 5 is detected to be released, and the final movement position are specified and recorded.

  Furthermore, as a reason, in addition to accepting an input as described above, a voice when each moving position is recorded may be recorded as a reason.

  Furthermore, as a movement position in the middle, a movement locus, that is, coordinate data may be recorded in time series.

  Another point for recording the progress of thought is the elapsed time required to rearrange the parts. In this embodiment, the elapsed time can be recorded corresponding to the reason for movement. In other words, if the elapsed time is longer than necessary, there may be factors such as "there is an inconsistent experience" or "there is a variation in the situation when using it" in the subject's experience There is a high possibility of becoming an important question material, and by recording these two data, it is possible to derive an important keyword related to the favorable arrangement of the subject 5.

  In the above description, the two-dimensional array investigation method has been described, but a three-dimensional model can also be evaluated. For example, this method can also be used for evaluating the arrangement of various operation devices in the driver's seat of a railway vehicle or automobile. Moreover, evaluation with more realistic operation feeling can be performed also by making the parts group 200 into a solid object.

  As described above, this product development design support tool is a product development design support tool that extracts improvement proposals related to the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects. A part group having an actual size that is movably provided in the part, and the base part is provided with a mark having a color tone different from that of the part group at an initial position of the part group to be compared. It can be used as a simple product evaluation support tool.

  More effectively, the survey content can be reproduced by providing a recording means for recording the movement result and the movement progress of the subject when the position of the part group is changed from the mark. Can be improved. Further, by providing a data sheet or database that records the reason for movement heard from the subject in response to the movement result of changing the position of the part group, it is possible to easily grasp the intention of the subject.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, an embodiment of product development and design support in which the investigation method of Embodiment 1 is introduced will be specifically described. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of product development design support according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of product development design support according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a screen transition diagram of product development design support according to the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, a product development / design support apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10 is a thin display unit 20 that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, and a touch panel disposed on the thin display unit 20. 30, a camera unit 31 for acquiring the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, a monitor 32 for monitoring the display of various input screens and the display content of the thin display unit 20, and various operations and inputs. A keyboard 33, a mouse 34, a speaker 35 for outputting guidance to the subject 5, a microphone 36 for exchanging information between the subject 5 and the observer 7, a storage unit 40 for storing various data, and this product development design support device 10 includes a control unit 50 that comprehensively controls 10 and a communication unit 37 that enables connection between the product development design support apparatus 10 and the network 9 or an external device. The camera unit 31, the monitor 32, the keyboard 33, and the mouse 34 can also function as the thin display unit 20 and the touch panel 30.

  In the storage unit 40, a survey target DB 41 for storing image data to be surveyed, a subject DB 42 for storing various types of information of the subject 5, a survey record DB 43 for recording the survey results shown in FIG. And a survey image DB 44 for storing the progress. In this embodiment, the survey record DB 43 is generated and stored in the same database as the data sheet 500 shown in FIG.

  Note that the product development design support apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3 (that is, excluding the network from FIG. 3) may be configured by a single casing, or may be configured by a plurality of casings, and each casing may be a network or a cable. Etc. may be connected.

  In the product development / design support apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the arrangement of the parts group 200 (operation switches) to be investigated is reproduced (displayed) on the thin display unit 20 with the actual size. Then, a group of parts 200 reproduced by many subjects 5 is rearranged through the touch panel 30 in the arrangement desired by each subject 5, and this rearrangement situation and rearrangement result are recorded, The observer 7 who observes the above information records the questions and the answers while adding the questions of each arrangement change as needed during the rearrangement work or after the rearrangement.

  In this embodiment, the data to be investigated can be obtained via the communication unit 37 or can be obtained via the camera unit 31. For example, when acquiring data to be investigated from the camera unit 31, an investigation object such as an existing product or a prototype model is photographed by the camera unit 31, and this is image-processed by an existing image processing program. 1 can be decomposed into a base image 110 as a base portion and a part image 210 as a part group 200 in the first embodiment. For example, a part boundary line is specified by an edge detection technique, and each part image is cut out based on the boundary line. The image data subjected to the image processing after the image processing is stored in the survey target DB 41. Note that the base image 110 and the part image 210 are displayed in different colors as in the first embodiment.

  Next, the operation method and operation of the product evaluation support apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The following processing is performed by the control unit 40 (an arithmetic device such as a CPU) according to a program (not shown) recorded in the recording unit 40.

  First, when an activation operation is performed via an activation switch (not shown), the control unit 50 displays a menu screen (not shown). Although description is omitted here, from this menu screen, selection of a survey target, selection of the subject DB 42, selection of a survey target acquisition operation by the camera unit 31 described above, various settings, and the like can be performed.

  Now, when selection of the survey target from the survey target DB 41 and selection operation of the test subject from the test subject DB 42 are performed (step 600), the control unit 50, the base image 110 of the survey target selected from the storage unit 40, The part image group 210 arranged at the basic position that is the initial value 101 of the base image 110 is displayed in an overlapping manner (step 602). For example, the subject screen 600 shown in FIG. Then, the control unit 50 starts operation recording in the thin display unit 20 (step 603) and monitors the touch operation on the touch panel 30 (step 604). The operation record is stored in the survey image DB 44.

  When a predetermined one of the part image group 210 is touched (step 604), the control unit 50 according to this embodiment starts measuring the drag time until the touched part image is released (step 606). ). When the part image is released (step 608), it is determined whether the drag time has passed a predetermined time (step 610). If the predetermined drag time has elapsed, a warning is displayed on the monitor 32 (step 612), and the drag time and moving coordinates are recorded at a predetermined position in the survey record DB (step 614). On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step 614. In addition, by recording time-series coordinate data of the part image between the above step 604 and step 608, that is, until the part image is touched and released, the movement trajectory of the dragged part image can be obtained. Can be recorded.

  Then, the control unit 50 performs monitoring of the part image group 210 until an end operation is performed (step 616). If the end operation is performed, an end process including the end of operation recording is executed and the process ends ( Step 618).

  This operation will be described as an operation flow with reference to FIG. The subject 5 can be moved by touching and dragging the part A on the subject screen 600, for example. The part A is displayed as an initial value 101 (basic position) at coordinates on the AXY of the thin display unit 20. When the subject 5 touches and drags the part A to move it to A1XY and releases it, the control unit 50 assumes that the part A has moved from the AXY coordinate to the A1XY coordinate, and sets the A1XY coordinate to the moving position 1 in FIG. Record at position 1 and the drag time at time 1. Furthermore, when the part A once released is touched again and moved to the A2XY coordinate by a drag operation and released, the control unit 50 records the drag time at the position 2 of the movement position 2 in FIG. To record. Further, the movement locus can be recorded by recording the coordinate data of the part A being dragged in time series.

  Thus, according to the product evaluation support apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, the subject 5 can rearrange the part images 210 into an arrangement desired by the subject 5 by repeating the drag operation. Since these operation processes are stored in the survey object DB 41 and the survey image DB 44, these processes can be reproduced and displayed on the thin display unit 20 later.

  In this embodiment, the drag time is measured, and a warning display can be displayed on the monitor 32 when a predetermined time has elapsed. Thereby, since the observer 7 can know the situation in which the subject 5 is at a loss, it is possible to conduct an interview survey from the subject each time or during reproduction.

  In such a subject survey, it is feared that the subject 5's intention cannot be grasped only by the rearranged final result, and an erroneous analysis result is caused. In this embodiment, it is possible to capture the subject 5 who is currently conducting the survey, ask him what the question is, and record the answer in the reason 1 or 2 of FIG. it can. The record of the reason for this hesitation or movement can be interviewed by the subject 5 and the observer 7 while reproducing the operation history on the thin display unit 20.

  In this embodiment, the time between touch operations is monitored, and a warning can be displayed on the monitor 32 when a predetermined time has elapsed. Thereby, when the subject 5 is confused by the operation, the observer 7 can give appropriate advice.

  As described above, the product development design support device according to this embodiment is a product development design support device that extracts improvement proposals related to the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects, and arranges the operation switches to be investigated. The storage unit includes a thin display unit to be reproduced, a touch panel disposed on the thin display unit, a storage unit that stores various data, and a control unit that comprehensively controls the product development design support device. Comprises a survey target DB for storing image data to be surveyed, and a survey record DB for recording survey results. The survey target DB includes a part image group that is set to be movable, a part image group, A base image provided with marks having different color tones at an initial position of a part image group to be compared, and the control unit includes the base image of the actual size on the thin display unit and the base image A full-size part image group arranged on the mark of the image is displayed in an overlapping manner, and the movement accompanying the drag operation of the part image group is accepted via the touch panel, and the position where the touch is released is set as the movement destination. The movement result is stored in the survey record DB.

  More preferably, the control unit accepts an input of the reason for movement heard from the subject corresponding to the movement destination coordinates, and stores it in the survey record DB. In addition, a monitor for monitoring the image of the thin display unit is provided, and the control unit counts the drag operation time which is a touch and release time for the part image group, and the drag time exceeds a predetermined time. In such a case, a warning is displayed on the monitor.

  In addition, the image display method of the product development design support apparatus includes a thin display unit that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, a touch panel that is arranged on the thin display unit, and a memory that stores various data. An image display method of a product development design support apparatus that extracts an improvement plan related to the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects. On the thin display portion, a full-size base image and a full-size part image group arranged on a mark attached to a predetermined position of the base image are displayed in an overlapping manner, and the part image group is displayed via the touch panel. The movement associated with the drag operation is received, and the part image group is moved and displayed with the position where the touch is released as the movement destination.

  More preferably, a warning is displayed when the drag operation time, which is a touch and release time for the part image group, exceeds a predetermined time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Product evaluation support tool, 5 ... Test subject, 7 ... Observer, 9 ... Network, 10 ... Product evaluation support apparatus, 20 ... Thin display part, 30 ... Touch panel, 31 ... Camera part, 32 ... Monitor, 33 ... Keyboard, 34 ... Mouse, 35 ... Speaker, 36 ... Microphone, 37 ... Communication part, 40 ... Storage part, 41 ... Investigation object DB, 42 ... Subject DB, 43 ... Investigation record DB, 44 ... Investigation image DB, 50 ... Control part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Base part, 101 ... Initial position, 110 ... Base image, 200 ... Parts group, 210 ... Parts image group, 300 ... Camera part, 400 ... Information processing apparatus, 500 ... Data sheet

Claims (6)

A product development design support tool that extracts improvement proposals related to product equipment placement from multiple subjects,
It has a base part with a full size and a group of parts with a full size that can be moved to the base part,
The base portion includes a mark having a color tone different from that of the parts group at an initial position of the parts group to be compared ,
A product development design support tool characterized by comprising recording means for recording the movement progress of the subject changing the position of the parts group from the mark . In the product development design support tool according to claim 1,
A product development design support tool, characterized by comprising recording means for recording a movement result of the subject changing the position of the part group from the mark. In any product development design support tool 2 according the claim 1,
A product development design support tool comprising a data sheet or a database for recording a reason for movement heard from a subject corresponding to a movement result obtained by changing the position of the part group. A product development design support device that extracts improvement proposals regarding the arrangement of product equipment from a plurality of subjects,
A thin display unit that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, a touch panel placed on the thin display unit, a storage unit that stores various data, and a product development design support device. And a control unit that
The storage unit includes a survey target DB that stores image data to be surveyed, and a survey record DB that records survey results.
The investigation target DB includes a part image group that is set to be movable, and a base image that includes a mark having a color tone different from that of the part image group at an initial position of the part image group to be compared,
The controller is
The base image of the actual size and the part image group of the actual size arranged on the mark of the base image are superimposed and displayed on the thin display unit,
Accepting the movement accompanying the drag operation of the part image group via the touch panel, storing the movement result in the investigation record DB with the position where the touch is released as the movement destination,
A product development design support apparatus that receives an input of a reason for movement heard from a subject in correspondence with a movement destination coordinate and stores the input in the survey record DB . In the product development design support device according to claim 4 ,
A monitor for monitoring an image of the thin display unit;
The control unit counts the drag operation time which is a touch and release time for the part image group, and displays a warning on the monitor when the drag time exceeds a predetermined time. Development design support equipment. A thin display unit that reproduces the arrangement of operation switches to be investigated, a touch panel placed on the thin display unit, a storage unit that stores various data, and a product development design support device. An image display method of a product development design support device that extracts a plurality of subjects for improvement plans related to the arrangement of product equipment.
In the thin display portion, a full-size base image and a full-size part image group arranged on a mark attached to a predetermined position of the base image are displayed in an overlapping manner.
Accepting movement accompanying the drag operation of the part image group via the touch panel, moving and displaying the part image group with the position where the touch is released as the movement destination ,
An image display method for a product development design support apparatus, characterized in that a warning is displayed when the drag operation time, which is a touch and release time for the part image group, exceeds a predetermined time .

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