Overview

A study was conducted to determine the optimal capacitive touch area for the audio content controls of the Noise Cancelling 700 (NC 700).

Challenge

Bose wanted to launch headphones that had capacitive touch, a form of controls on the product. The stakeholders were debating between 2 different layout options for the capacitive surface area. They wanted to determine which option, if any, resulted in higher accuracy and satisfaction.

Process

Recruitment

Participants were non-Bose (external) employees recruited from the Bose User Research Participant panel. Participants included users of over-ear headphones who did not have experience with capacitive touch.

Methodology

This study was a between-group design, where half of the participants were asked to perform a number of touch controls on one layout option and the other half performed touch controls on the other layout option. Participants were then exposed to the alternative layout option for a brief period of time in order to provide feedback on the alternative design.

Analysis

Mean success rates, learning curves, and mean satisfaction ratings were used to determine accuracy and satisfaction. The location of where participants performed the controls were also taken into account.

Outcomes

Both capacitive surface layouts performed similarly in accuracy and satisfaction, which indicated that both layouts were an acceptable choice. 

Based on these results as well as trade offs with other product features, the stakeholders decided on one of the capacitive touch layouts. Take a look at the video below to see which one they picked!