Dealing with Emotional Requirements for Software Ecosystems: Findings and Lessons Learned in the PHArA-ON Project

Mohamad Gharib, Mariana Falco, Femke Nijboer, Angelica M. Tinga, Stefania D'Agostini, Erika Rovini, Laura Fiorini, Filippo Cavallo, Kuldar Taveter

Abstract: Requirements Engineering (RE) stands as the cornerstone in ensuring that a system comprehensively captures and analyzes the needs and expectations of its users and stakeholders. Despite the numerous approaches designed for dealing with functional and quality (non-functional) requirements, approaches for dealing with emotional requirements still lag. Emotional requirements capture how users should feel when using a system, and inadequate consideration of such requirements results in end-users reluctance to use the system. In this paper, we report on our experience in dealing with emotional requirements as part of an H2020 European Project, namely PHArA-ON (Pilots for Healthy and Active Ageing in Europe) for the development of the PHArA-ON ecosystem that aims at improving the well-being and active aging of older adults. Specifically, we present the process we followed for dealing with emotional requirements, and we summarize the findings and lessons learned from this experience.