Fundamentals

This chapter establishes the foundational concepts and theories essential for understanding the scope and objectives of this book. It delves into the definitions and dimensions of quality, experience, and Quality of Experience, distinguishing Quality of Experience (QoE) from related concepts such as Quality of Service and User Experience. By reviewing existing literature, it highlights the effectiveness and limitations of current QoE estimation methods and models. The chapter also presents the conceptual model of QoE, incorporating both psychological and psychophysiological aspects, and emphasizes the importance of individual user perceptions. Various methods of QoE assessment, including subjective and objective measures, are discussed, with a focus on their application in video telecommunication contexts. The chapter concludes by outlining the primary research questions guiding this investigation, aiming to develop and validate a model that integrates individual differences into QoE estimation. These questions explore the influence of individual factors on QoE, the accuracy of an individualized QoE estimation model, and the viability of video-based conversation simulations for studying human reactions to quality degradation.