Evaluating the Experience of Use of a Squeezable Interface

The paper presents the user experience evaluation of Squeeze Me, an interactive cover for tablet and smartphone that enables continuous and expressive interaction with electronic devices. The cover is made of a soft rubbery material that embeds pressure sensors and electronics. It can be squeezed with both hands. The intensity of the input is reflected in the output. So far, two applications of Squeeze Me have been implemented: an interface to control the movements of a domestic robot in a smart environment, and a mobile application that makes it possible to zoom in and out while taking a photograph, without removing the hands from the tablet. Both applications have been evaluated with users. This paper focuses on testing the zooming application. The test was conducted involving 67 people. Their experience of use was evaluated using AttrakDiff [1], a questionnaire that measures hedonic stimulation and identity, as well as pragmatic qualities of software products. Users were asked to try out three interaction modalities for comparison: squeeze to zoom, pinch to zoom and slide to zoom. Results reveal that Squeeze to zoom is significantly more appreciated for its hedonic qualities. The paper concludes with a reflection on the potential and possible applications of Squeeze Me technology.