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T-Xchange speeds up innovation processes

T-Xchange is a cluster of technology companies seeking to improve innovation routes with the help of information exchange and methodology development. Taking part in T-Xchange are: the University of Twente, Thales Nederland, Indes, Vrest and the Virtual Valley Twente Association. Using, among other things, gaming and scenario-based designs, T-Xchange designs methods that can be tried and tested in the T-Xchange lab. Visualisation and virtual reality are used to simulate complex applications, enabling the accelerated development, testing and improvement of products and services.

Having worked with its own User Centered Industrial Design® method for years, Indes recognises the importance of application scenarios in the design process, and therefore co-invested in the design of T-Xchange last year.

Scenario-based design
Together with the T-Xchange partners, Indes studies gaming, scenario-based design and the use of virtual reality in innovation. T-Xchange approaches innovation and development processes in a new way, challenging the designer to explore new dimensions. This approach involves the use of scenario-based design, which means that no product or service exists yet, only a description of a situation requiring a solution. By visualising these descriptions, as well as potential solutions, you can start gaming, a hands-on way of finding the best solution. The players in the game are users, experts and designers. This design method harmonises well with the UCID® method designed by Indes. VR technologies such as a semi-circular projection screen for 3D visualisations and desks with tablet PCs are available in the new UT lab. The players’ moves are registered so that the process can be monitored and adjusted where necessary.

Practical application
The Urban Mobility Game was developed within T-Xchange to test the new method. In the game, users and designers can work together to develop a ‘vehicle’ for city use. The game has already resulted in several innovative product ideas and it can, by rights, be considered a successful demonstrator of the method. Using virtual reality, the user and the designer immerse themselves in future applications which they have, at that point, created themselves. Direct feedback during gaming speeds up the development process and enables a review of more innovative solutions. The short time to market and the thoroughness of the process are of considerable benefit to clients.

Indes will be engaging T-Xchange for strategic analysis and idea finding but also to test evolved concepts and existing products (benchmarking). Indes is set to continue the development of UCID® over the next few years.