Evaluating user interfaces for engineering tasks with biometric logging

The application of computer-aided design (CAD) has brought significant increases in productivity during the design and assembly stages. However, there are still many aspects in the use of the technology which requires further research. One particular aspect is how the design of the user interface can have an effect on the productivity of the engineer. More specifically, the authors proposed to investigate whether a game-like environment for carrying out a design can bring about any positive benefits. User trials were carried out which involved measuring the biophysiological properties of engineers such as brain signals (EEG) and galvanic skin response (GSR), as they carried out design tasks in both a game-like environment and also a commercial CAD package. Depending on the type of design task carried out, it was discovered that the bio-physiological measurements showed more positive response in a game-like environment. More preliminary results show that the user-interface design can affect productivity and further investigation is warranted.