Analysing the Role of Interactivity in User Experience

An experimental investigation into the role of interaction in user experience (UX) with a controlled manipulation of interactivity features (e.g. avatars, interactive video) in a university information website is reported. The more interactive version had better affect and hedonic ratings, even though its perceived usability was worse. Analysis of qualitative data showed users were attracted to the interactive features, although they complained about poor usability. The results of the experiments are discussed to consider the role of interactivity in user experience and the differences between users’ quantitative judgements of UX and their comments on interactive features which reveal different perspectives

Light scalar spectrum in extra-dimensional gauge theories

The phase diagram of five-dimensional SU(2) gauge theories with one compactified dimension on anisotropic lattices has a rich structure. In this contribution we show how to control non-perturbatively the scale hierarchy between the cut-off and the compactification scale in the bare parameter space. There exists a set of strong bare couplings where the the five-dimensional lattice theory can be described by an effective four-dimensional theory with a scalar field in the adjoint representation. We present a detailed study of the light scalar spectrum as it arises from the non-perturbative dynamics of the full five-dimensional lattice theory. We also investigate the mixing with scalar glueball states in the attempt to further establish the extra-dimensional nature of light scalar states.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the 30th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, June 24-29 201

A lattice calculation of B -> K(*) form factors

Lattice QCD can contribute to the search for new physics in b -> s decays by providing first-principle calculations of B -> K(*) form factors. Preliminary results are presented here which complement sum rule determinations by being done at large q^2 and which improve upon previous lattice calculations by working directly in the physical b sector on unquenched gauge field configurations.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of CKM2010, the 6th International Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle, University of Warwick, UK, 6-10 September 201

Using affect to evaluate user engagement

User Experience (UX) emerged beyond the traditional views of usability to account for users' emotional response to the aesthetics of an interactive product. This paper outlines the first of a series of studies on User Engagement (UE), a subset of UX, which focuses upon the quality of the within session interactive experience. The aim of this study is to explore affect through the responses to interactive features and how this impacts upon user judgment. Initial findings indicate that websites with more interactive features generate enhanced positive affect within session, which may predominate over a longer term, thus impacting on the overall user experience

Evaluating User Engagement Theory

A variety of views of User Experience (UX) have emerged ranging from contextual interpretations of experience to experimental studies. This paper focuses on User Engagement (UE), a restricted explanation of UX that concentrates on judgement of product quality during interaction. It presents a model to explain how users’ judge quality according to criteria such as aesthetics, usability and engagement

Ehrenfest theorems for field strength and electric current in Abelian projected SU(2) lattice gauge theory

We derive an Ehrenfest theorem for SU(2) lattice gauge theory which, after Abelian projection, relates the Abelian field strength and a dynamical electric current and defines these operators for finite lattice spacing. Preliminary results from the ongoing numerical test of the relation are presented, including the contributions from gauge fixing and the Faddeev-Popov determinant (the ghost fields) in the maximally Abelian gauge.Comment: 3pp. LaTeX, using espcrc2.sty. Talk presented at Lattice 9