A User-Centered Approach to User-Building Interactions

Abstract

Providing a task-representative user interface for building operations and control puts the user in charge of their health, safety, and well-being and improves task performance. Enabling users control of building conditions and operations often results in poor overall building performance, such as increased energy usage due to lighting a non-occupied room. As a result, building designers limit the control users have in the spaces they occupy by implementing lighting schedules, for example. However, research has indicated an improved user experience results when users regulate their environment. This conflict produces significant challenges in building interaction design regarding the allocation of control in user-building interactions. An approach is being developed to align user-building interaction design with the building’s purpose – to support users’ tasks. Rather than multiple operation specific interfaces, providing users a unified task-representative interface links building operations, users, and tasks. The result is a more informative interaction between the user and building operations and a more effective, efficient, and enhanced task experience.