title: Is the linear modeling technique good enough for optimal form design? A comparison of quantitative analysis models.
abstract: How to design highly reputable and hot-selling products is an essential issue in product design. Whether consumers choose a product depends largely on their perception of the product image. A consumer-oriented design approach presented in this paper helps product designers incorporate consumers' perceptions of product forms in the design process. The consumer-oriented design approach uses quantification theory type I, grey prediction (the linear modeling technique), and neural networks (the nonlinear modeling technique) to determine the optimal form combination of product design for matching a given product image. An experimental study based on the concept of Kansei Engineering is conducted to collect numerical data for examining the relationship between consumers' perception of product image and product form elements of personal digital assistants (PDAs). The result of performance comparison shows that the QTTI model is good enough to help product designers determine the optimal form combination of product design. Although the PDA form design is used as a case study, the approach is applicable to other consumer products with various design elements and product images. The approach provides an effective mechanism for facilitating the consumer-oriented product design process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Arts and Design, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974, Taiwan. lyc0914@cm1.hinet.net
authors.forename: Yang-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chung-Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chen-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D003256:Community Participation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer