This study focused on the impressions of robot design in the Japanese robot anime series, “Mobile Suit Gundam”. In Experiment 1, the impressions of robot design were measured using semantic differential method. Results of the factor analysis showed that the impressions of the robot design were illustrated by a three dimensional space, which was spanned by ‘Massiveness,’ ‘Coolness’ and ‘Roundness.’ ‘Moe’ is one of the most important keywords in robot design. The results of a multiple-regression analysis showed that Moe was felt deeply for a massive, cool and box-shaped robot. In Experiment 2, the differences between robots of scale models and super-deformed models were investigated. The results showed that the scale models were designed to be cool and the super-deformed models were designed to be cute.

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Tactile perception is an important sensation for assessing the comfortability of wood. In this study, we applied a 3D real-time motion measurement system and a body pressure distribution system to investigate the different hand movements that subjects tended to use when assessing four material properties of wood. The results showed that subjects traced the square wood specimen with a rectangular motion to evaluate “cool/warm” and “hard/soft”. However, when subjects evaluated “cool/warm,” their hands stayed on one spot for a short period to check the transfer of heat, whereas when subjects evaluated “hard/soft,” their hands moved continuously to check the material hardness. When subjects evaluated “rough/smooth” and “dry/moist,” they touched the surface of the wood continuously. When evaluating “rough/smooth,”, they used a slight rubbing movement between the surface of the wood and the skin, in contrast with the vertical hand movements used by subjects to check moisture level when evaluating “dry/moist.”

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Kansei values are important factors in manufacturing in Japan. Kawaii, which is a positive adjective that denotes such positive meanings as cute or lovable, becomes even more important as a kansei value. Some research has evaluated kawaii feelings by various biological signals. However, since no detailed eye tracking has been conducted yet, we employed it to identify the relationship between kawaii feelings and eye movements. We previously performed an experiment on preferences in which participants chose their favorite kawaii illustrations from six choices. However, we could not perform detailed analysis due to the complexity of the eye movements and the calibration-free data. Therefore, we improved our experiment method by randomly showing only two illustrations at a time from the six choices. From our analyzed results, we clarified the relationship between kawaii feelings and eye movements and identified two new indexes.

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Facing the challenge of industry 4.0, the level of tool machinery must be promoted. Aesthetic appearance plays a crucial role in exhibiting the level of a machine. This paper introduces the grey-based Kansei engineering scheme in conjunction with an innovation process to provide a complete design process, from concept formulation to prototype making, so as to add the additional value of a machine. In this study, a computer-numerical-control (CNC) machine is chosen as the target since it ranks as high as the 3^rd biggest enterprise in Taiwan. The CNC machine products in the marketplace were analyzed in two aspects: form decomposition and descriptive words. Then the Multiple Regression and Grey System Theory were applied to establish their relationship. Based on this relationship, the weight of each form element on a prescribed descriptive word can be obtained and used as design reference. With this reference, an image board of creativity can be established. A final innovative product form can be obtained by extracting the idea from this image board. Furthermore, a verification was performed and a satisfying result of the proposed Kansei-innovation manipulation procedure was obtained.

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This paper investigated and analyzed the distribution, frequency and transformation of clothing color of five representative luxury brands (Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Chanel and Prada), through measuring the color of digital pictures of Ready-to-Wear Collections held from 2006 to 2015. Color features of each brand and in common were discussed and summarized. They were also compared with fast fashion brands to understand the similarities and differences in color between these two different fashion styles. As a result, luxury brands tended to use more vivid and bright colors in the spring-summer seasons, and more dull and dark colors in the autumn-winter seasons. These tendencies were similar to fast fashion brands. However, the color changes of luxury brands between two seasons were larger than those of fast fashion brands. Different characteristics of color selections and changes were also found between luxury brands.

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We investigated the psychophysiological effects of eight different aromas under a short-term stressor, in a within-subject experiment using an olfactometer. In this preliminary study, 6 male university students performed a 30-min calculation task under the aroma conditions: Chocolate, Strawberry, Green tea, Apple, Citrus ginger, Chamomile, Cedarwood, Musk or dipropylene glycol (control). Each aroma was intermittently delivered using a proprietary olfactometer on separate experiment days. Along with a visual analogue scale for psychological assessment, skin conductance level and electrocardiograms were recorded throughout the experiment. The increase/decrease in heart rate and high-frequency component of heart rate variability during the task were inhibited by Cedarwood, Strawberry, Green tea, Apple, and Citrus ginger, demonstrating inhibitory effects on cardiac sympathetic nervous system elevation and parasympathetic nervous system suppression. While identifying some prominent aromas for further research, the study revealed a stimulus-specific nature of aroma which led to discrepant psychophysiological effects.

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The photomontage of lotus seedpods on human skin has been called “Hasu-colla” in Japan, and this can elicit strong aversion in viewers. Previous studies have reported that lotus seedpods evoke core disgust, and that Hasu-colla relates to animal reminder disgust. However, the relationship between unpleasantness evoked by lotus seedpods and that by Hasu-colla has not been demonstrated. The present study investigated whether Hasu-colla evokes stronger disgust than lotus seedpods presented alone as well as differences between background objects (from animal to stone) in evoking aversion. Hasu-colla induced stronger unpleasantness than did lotus seedpods and background objects presented alone (Exp. 1 and 2). The amplification of unpleasantness was weakest in stones and strongest in dogs among animals (Exp. 2). Lotus seedpods, which are related to disgust for clusters, evoke strong feelings of contamination, supporting the possibility that such clusters are associated with scars and sores.

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The study explored the image style preferences of different lifestyle values for wedding dress consumers. Evaluation grid method (EGM) with Miryoku engineering were also used to construct attractiveness factors for wedding dresses evaluation. Then, weights of the attractiveness factors were further analyzed according to Hayashi's Quantitative Theory Type I. The results of correspondence analysis (CA) revealed that, on the belongingness seekers preferred the wedding dress image style of noble and formal. For self-realization followers, they preferred the image styles of noble and formal and attractive and charming while hedonists preferred the style of romantic and pretty. The results of quantification Type I analysis also indicated the categories of ball gown, mermaid cut, emphasis on neckline, slim fit cut, embroidered lace pattern, chiffon and yarn, long/short-sleeved, lotus leaf hemmed, pleated, waistband and back had statistically significant positive influences. The value and contribution of the study was to conclude the results of wedding dress attractiveness factor analysis for industries and wedding dress designers to utilize as their design references.

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