CRX Project : Activities and Achievements

1995 to 1996

The activities of the CRX Project focused on examining interface terminologies (e.g. feature names), pictorial symbols indicating features, colors of buttons on operation panels, and the layouts of operation panels.
Because of the varying viewpoints on interface terminologies, sometimes opinions were divided. To ensure fairness and transparency in the decision process, interface terminologies were evaluated by a third-party, Professor Kaiho of the Educational Psychology Division of the University of Tsukuba.
After further verification by usability evaluations and in-house questionnaires, the achievements of our activities were summarized as "CRX Project User Interface Guidelines" in March 1997.

Interface terminology User interface terminologies were evaluated from the perspectives of whether the terms would be easily understood by novice users, and whether changes in terms would not confuse experienced users. The unified terminologies were made into the Guidelines.	Pictorial symbols indicating features Pictorial symbols were selected based on those that were conventionally used. The pictorial symbols that did not conform to ISO standards were standardized.
Colors of buttons on the operation panel The Start/Stop/Reset buttons on the operation panel are the most important features and are used most frequently. To avoid any confusion, the consistencies of color names (e.g. Start Color, Stop Color, etc.) and corresponding hues (e.g. green hue for Start Color etc.) were realized.	Layout of the operation panel The layout was designed to enable a left-to-right smooth flow of operations, allowing the users to understand the features and their importance.

1997 to 1998

In addition to the interface terminology, the CRX Project took a step further to work on items including visual languages, setup procedures and indication of power-saving features, colors of interior lever equipments, and the concepts for the indication of status and warnings.
Personnel in charge of operability/usability evaluations gathered from each company to exchange information on evaluation methods. At the same time, the common guidelines for "user-friendliness" were discussed and the result was reflected into the basic principles.
Moreover, in order to promote a wider utilization of the achievements of standardization, we actively and cooperatively participated in various associations, and conducted activities to improve the convenience of users.

Colors of interior levers of equipments To enable easy replacement of toner cartridges and handling of paper jams, the concepts for the colors of interior parts to be operated and the operation instruction labels were arranged in the Guidelines.	Basic principles of user-friendliness Important "basic principles of user-friendliness" were selected from the expertise of the personnel in charge of operability/usability evaluations. These principles were taken into the Guidelines.
Concepts for indication of status and warnings The concepts for the indication of the status of equipments and warnings were organized into the table and included in the Guidelines.	Setup procedures and indication of power-saving features To comply with international standards stipulated in line with the social demands for energy conservation, setting operations for power saving and indication of power-saving status were added into the Guidelines.

1999

In addition to its previous activities, the CRX Project launched new activities related to the operability of copying machines and multifunction machines under the theme of the universal design.
This activity involved the creation of posters on the universal design to enlighten people both inside and outside of the companies and make them aware of our activities.
Furthermore, the website was set up to introduce the activities of the CRX Project. The website is used effectively as a means of publicizing the activities and achievements, as well as listening to a wide range of opinions from the public.

2000 to 2001

When Seiko Epson joined the project, the meaning of the project's name was changed from the acronym of the three member companies to "Collaboration for Research and Exchange".
In "CRX Forum 2001", the achievements of the CRX Project in the last five years were presented. Also, the forum was an opportunity to step up our efforts toward more vigorous future activities.
As a practice of PDCA policy, the CRX Project began to verify the achievements (guidelines) and extract new challenges.
As the scope of the activities has expanded from standardizations to proposals, "Memorandum on the Handling of Intellectual Property Rights in the CRX Project" was concluded so that anyone would be able to utilize the achievements of the project.
The Manual WG was launched in pursuit of standardizing easy-to-understand expressions in instruction manuals.

Visibility of displayed characters

The character size and lightness differences were examined in order to meet the needs of our aging society. Evaluations were conducted in a real-life environment with the equipments and elderly people as the test subjects. The evaluation results were fixed into the Guidelines.

Ease of refilling staplers

For the stapler unit of copying machines and printers, the operability was reviewed in consideration of the universal design, which led to an actual design development.

2002

Nomenclature WG We made a proposal to unify nomenclature for scanner driver, also function details of printer driver with Nomenclature Map as well.	Universal Design WG We studied what kind of visual and touch information would be effective and preferable for design to users who have visual impairments by considering based on their needs.
Manual WG We created guidelines to inform customers that the four CRX companies had been working on procedure of recycling used consumable goods.	Result Verification WG We verified feedback from targeted products for the guidelines and issues on basic operation. We also conducted Trial Session for Designers with actual products.
Home Page WG We understood the way of HP to put out activities of CRX Project externally, and relaunched its contexture to enhance impression of HP to users.

2003

Nomenclature WG We aimed to make consistency of combination including the other UI elements to nomenclature, also, studied Nomenclature Map to concrete it, which helps to direct the way of nomenclature.	Sound / Touch WG We created Design Guidelines for haptic information of power switch, and put out information about annunciation sound.
Manual WG We established “Electronic Instruction Manual Standard Logo Mark” to have users used it efficiently, and created its guidelines to show how to adopt the logo mark.	Result Verification WG We expand targeted users for evaluation and verification. We extracted issues from the guidelines to make proposal for its improvement.
HP Editorial WG We had interviews to the heads of Design Centers of the four CRX companies and formulated midterm plan.	WG To Promote CRX Collaboration We planned and promoted Symposium, Trial Session, Communication Meeting, etc. to appeal CRX Project and its collaboration were not only for the members, but also for non-CRX companies and users.

2004

Nomenclature WG We drew out ideas to make consistency of UI nomenclature and improved usability by each company’s effort.	STWG We had S (sound) T (touch) WG Activity in way of following Sound/Touch Activity 2003.
Manual WG We made an effort to improve recognizability and usability of Electronic Instruction Manual as our main activity.	Bypass Tray Study WG We had activity to make users avoided miscopy by improving usability and creating expressions as much as possible to guide to handle Bypass Tray of each company’s device.
WG for Web Planning We planned and produced such as: 1. “UI Pocket”, contents to draw users to the guidelines, 2. Our activity introduced in English, 3. CRX Design Shared report page.	WG To Promote CRX Collaboration Main activity by core members was held as “The 1st Design Shared” on 24 Nov. 2004. Designers from the other three companies, which are not from device area, participated to provide presentation regarding “Usability and Formative” with the four CRX companies.

2005

GUI WG We studied friendly GUI expression including Status.	Annunciation Sound GW It became independent from STW WG. We had Attitude Survey regarding Annunciation Sound and evaluation of Rich Sound created in 2004 by third party of in-house.
Manual WG It was aimed to draw up Electronics Instruction Manual Evaluation Guidelines and standardize logo mark for printing media.	MFP Panel WG We verified operability of MFP panel from universal design point of view and clarified consideration points of design.
WG for Web Planning It was aimed to inform the public of CRX Project by increasing its Web site visitors and promote to familiarize the guidelines.	Nomenclature WG It was aimed to share process when nomenclature was newly determined and control variability by sharing different way of thinking.

2006

Manual WG

We continued to draw up Electronic Instruction Manual Evaluation Guidelines, also, conducted Information Sharing Meeting to introduce production job site to each other.

WG for Web Planning

We published information of CRX Project such as Cross Talk and Nomenclature Creation Tool. Apart from the above, English translation of the guidelines was done, and we started expanding international information.