Users' interaction with PV-powered products: an evaluation of 6 products by 100 end-users

Georgia Apostolou, Angele Reinders

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In order to understand how users interact with PV-powered products, the behavior of 100 people was observed and analyzed, while interacting with 6 different photovoltaic-powered products in their daily life. The sample of users to be observed consisted of 20 groups, each one formed by 5 students of the Industrial Design Engineering Department of TU Delft in the Netherlands. The tested PV products were: the IKEA Sunnan lamp, the Waka Waka light, the Waka Waka Power (charger and light), the Little Sun light, the Logitech solar keyboard and the Beurer kitchen weight scale. In this study the design of the 6 tested PV products was analyzed, users' expectations were outlined and the users' opinion of the products' performance after use was addressed. Main results show that the users need more reliable PV products, made with nice materials, that have an interesting design, and perform sufficiently. Consumers are willing to invest money and buy a PV product if it is useful and works properly.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
Place of PublicationPiscataway
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781479979448
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC 2015) - Hyatt Regency New Orleans , New Orleans, United States
Duration: 14 Jun 201519 Jun 2015
Conference number: 42
https://www.ieee-pvsc.org/PVSC42/

Conference

Conference42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC 2015)
Abbreviated titlePVSC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period14/06/1519/06/15
Internet address

Keywords

  • aesthetics
  • design
  • performance
  • photovoltaic
  • PV
  • PV products
  • PV-powered
  • user behavior
  • user interaction
  • users' expectations

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