Display-control spatial mapping problem: Revisit to four-hotplate stovetop design

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was twofold - 1) to identify user-preferred spatial arrangements of four pairs of hotplate and control, and 2) to investigate the effects of initial design constraints on the user preference. Background: Most stove layout designs come with squarely arranged 4 hotplates with different locations/alignments for their controls. Prior studies on the stovetop layout problem, however, were done with some initial design constraints (e.g., hotplates first placed on the stovetop). Method: Twenty participants were asked to place 4 hotplates and 4 controls at any place on the stovetop they preferred (without preoccupation of either hotplate or control), and then to couple each hotplate with each control. In the second session, 4 hotplates or controls were placed first on the stovetop, and then remaining parts were placed by the participants. Results: One spatial arrangement was predominant in the first session, while three were in the second session. Conclusion: Initial design constraints appeared to affect display-control mapping preferences. Application: The findings imply that a ny initial design constraint should be carefully allowed for when determining any display-control mapping solution based on user preference.