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PURPOSE: To create a method for evaluating and understanding perceived mechanical quality in products. While the method can be applied to any mechanical quality purpose, this thesis addresses the example of bistable slide mechanisms in mobile phones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proposed herein is a method for evaluating perceived mechanical quality using sensory panels and quick individual vocabulary profiling, a variant of sensory profiling. Included in the proposed method are sensory evaluation theory, testing procedures, and data analysis methods. The main result of this thesis is a conclusion of whether or not quick individual vocabulary profiling is an appropriate tool for evaluating perceived mechanical quality. RESULTS: After completing a complete iteration of sensory profiling using a panel of 13 persons, the thesis has shown that quick individual vocabulary profiling is an appropriate and reasonable means of evaluating and understanding perceived mechanical quality. In addition, this implementation of quick individual vocabulary profiling gives relatively quick and concise results. Furthermore, the results show with a reasonable degree of certainty that a degree of consensus was achieved between different assessors and some clear trends have emerged. CONCLUSION: Quick individual vocabulary profiling combined with various analysis techniques has been conclusively proven to be a possible solution for evaluation perceived mechanical quality of bistable slide mechanisms in mobile phones.

In order to understand user needs, traditionally only current users of a productare examined. Classical research on problem solving shows, however, that current users are strongly constrained by their real-world experience, an effect called functional fixedness. Von Hippel’s lead user method takes a totally different approach as it is not based on current users but lead users. Lead users face needs that will be general in a marketplace –but face them months or years before the bulk of that marketplace encounters them, and they are positioned to benefit significantly by obtaining a solution to those needs. The purpose of this study was to investigate if disabled persons could be seen as lead users in mobile user interface design. Another goal was to evaluate the suitability of the selected research methods on the examined user groups. An able-bodied user may suffer from a “situational disability” caused by the environment. In this study the user needs of disabled and “situationally disabled” users were compared. The examined user groups were deaf, blind, and “ordinary” users, who see and hear well.The methods used were photo diary based on a theme, and contextual inquiry combined with an open-ended discussion. The “ordinary” users were examined in situational disability conditions, and disabled users in their ordinary environment, such as home. This research shows that “ordinary” users do face difficulties when using their mobile phones in special situations, i.e. they in fact are situationally disabled. The user needs partially overlap with the needs of disabled users in ordinary situations. Both visually and hearing impaired participants showed innovative and leading edge behaviour. It was concludedthat there is a strong indication that disabled persons could be seen as lead users.Photo diary was found to be an effective and easy method for self-documentation – also when studying blind users. No other equipment is needed for documentation, as long as the photos are