ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on users’ interaction with photovoltaic (PV)-powered products. It reviews theories about consumers’ expectations before they use a PV-powered product. Also, it presents a user test of various PV-powered products—such as various lamps, kitchen equipment, and office equipment—aiming at capturing users experiences as well as the fulfillment of their expectations and needs by these sorts of products.
Because of the relative newness of PV-powered products on the market, this chapter is directed toward the perceptions of “lead users” instead of the vast majority of regular users of products. Lead users are more critical toward existing products and are able to propose possible solutions and ideas about the redesign of PV products. The results revealed that the usability of the design, aesthetics, reliability, and performance of a PV product are quite important factors for lead users. It was found that respondents are enthusiastic about PV products’ functionality; however, they also felt that their reliability and form giving could be improved.
