New Lab Evaluates User Response to Potential Products

Ever find using a product incredibly difficult and frustrating? Lack of product interface design-some have called it the “science of simplicity”–is usually the reason why companies that neglect this may find the consumer marketplace less than receptive-and customers less than satisfied. With this in mind, Siemens has inaugurated its third worldwide User Interface Design Lab. Located at Siemens Corporate Research (SCR) in Princeton, NJ, the lab has responsibility in the U.S. for evaluating user interfaces and evaluating how real users respond to potential products. The lab follows an interdisciplinary approach, employing a team of specialists from the fields of information technology, engineering, psychology, sociology, linguistics, as well as communication design. Siemens’ other two usability laboratories are located in Munich and Beijing.