A usability assessment is an experiment in which we ask various potential users of a product to act as monitors and simulate use of models that are under consideration (full scale prototypes) to assess their usability. Staff members and employees of various perspectives involved in the development process record observations and analyze user behavior. This process provides hints on how to improve usability, which are then incorporated into design.

Assessment methods are selected to meet the goals of the project, which leads to more objective evaluations. They potentially include behavior observation, focus group interviews, inspections, questionnaires, protocol analysis and performance measurement. We are also involved in research on assessment systems for this purpose.

In terms of the types of prototypes used, specifications, simulation models and product mock-ups are utilized depending on the product's stage of development.

We conduct basic research, including research on the characteristics of human behavior. We are currently conducting research into manufacturing skills, particularly the mental skills that are deployed when using machinery that has been digitized or automated. The purpose of the research is to come to a better understanding of skills that cannot be explained easily by observing and analyzing the actions that take place while the work is being done.