Step 4

Lastly, the testers were asked about the reasons why they chose (or did not choose) the near and far adjectives. Basically, they were asked to justify their answers in order to find out which was the reasoning behind their choice. Also, a brief five-minute conversation about it took place.

2.1.3. Results from Temperature-Depth Correlation Test with the Sighted Users

The results of the tests for the case of the ten sighted users for each one of the two stages can be seen in Figures 2 and 3. The data related only to the near and far adjectives can be seen more clearly in Tables 3 and 4, where the number of people that selected each option is indicated next to the percentage in relation to the total number of sighted participants.

**Figure 2.** Results during the first stage when users were given the adjective list shown in Table 1.

**Figure 3.** Results during the second stage when users were given the adjective list shown in Table 2.

**Table 3.** Results during first stage only for the "near" and "far" adjectives.


**Table 4.** Results during second stage only for the "near" and "far" adjectives.


2.1.4. Results from Temperature-Depth Correlation Test with the Visually Impaired Users

The results of the tests for the case of the six visually impaired users for each one of the two stages can be seen in Figures 4 and 5. The data related only to the near and far adjectives can be seen more clearly in Tables 5 and 6.

**Figure 4.** Results during the first stage when users were given the adjective list shown in Table 1.

**Figure 5.** Results during the second stage when users were given the adjective list shown in Table 2.



**Table 6.** Results during second stage only for the "near" and "far" adjectives.


### 2.1.5. Temperature-Depth Correlation Test Results

In general, a correlation between warm and near, and cold and far, can be clearly seen in both stages with both groups. In particular, it is really interesting to see that, in the case of the VIP group, both stages of the test gave quite similar results (totally similar as far as the near/far adjectives are concerned), which indicates that the visually impaired people were probably putting attention and e ffort during the test since they are more used to, and find more meaning, in trying out di fferent types of interactions. On the contrary, the sighted people seemed to show less interest during the test, which might be the reason why the answers from stage 1 and stage 2 were somehow di fferent. Nevertheless, even in the case of the sighted people, at some point of the test, eight of the ten users agreed that the conceptual dichotomies warm—near and cold—far were correlated. This fact was proven during the test with VIP, where 83% of the users (a total of five out of six) linked in both stages the warm temperature to the concept of being near something, and the cold temperature to the concept of being far. The exception was one of the nine-year-old young kids, who, after hesitating, decided to select the "not applicable" answer, arguing that even though there was some correlation felt, it was not a clear and transparent feeling. This is really interesting since it might not be a matter of chance that the user who had more troubles correlating temperature to the near/far concept was a child. The process which defines temperature-depth association (or temperature and its association to any other concepts whatsoever) is an interesting issue, which should also be taken into account in the future.

### 2.1.6. Temperature-Depth Correlation Test Interviews

To make sure what their answers and thoughts were, we asked participants the reasons for their choice and what the feeling or thought was that made them choose that particular adjective. The interviews were useful both for finding out the real thoughts of the users and the feeling and thinking behind their answers. In general, every answer considering a correlation between the warm temperature and the concept of "near" were related to the feeling of warmness we feel when we are surrounded by people, when someone is near us. For example, some of the testers said:

"I chose near because I remembered how I feel warm and nice when I am close to people".

"I chose near because I felt a warm feeling like in a warm atmosphere with people coming towards me".

However, there were also two users who believed the concept of "far" was better suited to the warm temperature, and they also had their own reasons to feel that. One of the most interesting comments was the following:

"I chose far for the warm temperature because I felt a warm hazy feeling like that of smoke, like distant far away memories".

Regarding the far–cold correlation, it is interesting that most of the users that chose far for the cold temperature seemed to agree on the reasons. Eight users answered something related to feeling cold because of being lonely and away from people. Some of the exact words were:

"The cold temperature reminded me of winter and of feeling lonely, away from everything"

"The cold temperature made me feel sad and dead, so I felt far away from others and life"

However, there were also answers that justified the opposite: that the cold temperature was a reminder of something being near:

"The cold temperature was felt fast, immediately, like a knife. So it reminded me of something that is really near and true, something that I can easily feel".

In spite of this di fferences, it is important to note that most users justified the near–warm and far–cold correlation by sharing similar ideas, feelings and conceptualizations, which in turn, proved that the correlation between farness and cold temperatures, and nearness and warm temperatures can be useful for designing a temperature-depth mapping.

### *2.2. Temperature-Depth Mapping*

The existing correlation between warm and near, and cold and far, was utilized for conveying depth and distance by means of temperature cues. The main idea is simple: the nearer an object is to the user, the warmer the temperature cue. Similarly, the farther an object from the user, the cooler the temperature cue for that object. This idea can be applied in many ways, but we decided to follow a simple mapping method which is explained next, in four steps:
