Industrial Design Chapter 9

Industrial Design is: Service of creating & developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value, and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of the user and manufacturer.

Work also includes: User-centered ergonomics Improving manufacturing methods Client image considerations, including advertising and layout Standards setting & verification Normal professional responsibilities

Involved Professions Marketing experts – appeal, value Design engineers – layout, improv. Biomedical engineers – usefulness, usability, safety, compatability Human factors experts - safety Manufacturing engineers - mfgability Service personnel – complaints, ease Returns - complaints

Industrial Design Steps Set usability goals –Provide quantitative basis for acceptance testing –Objective or subjective – Typically 50 goals, combination objective and subjective Examples –Anesthetist will rate alarm control/reset controls as 5 or better on a scale of 1-7 –Machine will be calibrated and ready to go in 30 seconds or less

Industrial Design Steps (ctd.) Design user interface concepts –Develop conceptual model –Develop user interface structure –Define interaction style –Develop screen template –Develop hardware layout –Develop a screenplay –Develop a refined design –Develop final design

Industrial Design Steps (ctd.) Model the user interface –Build a prototype to evaluate dynamics of user interface –Software, hardware, mockup Test user interface –At start of development effort –When prototype is developed –When marketing claims may be displayed –Conferences, office, lunchroom

Specifying the User Interface Style guide Screen hierarchy map Screenplay Specification prototype Hardware layouts

Drug Administration View Primary Graph Plotter Control Routine Events View Secondary Graph Trend Select Comment EntryExamine Variables View/Set Alarm Limits Equipment Configuration View Drug Dose Totals Patient/Operation Information Entry Exit Program Main Menu Mock-up for Monitoring

Additional Industrial Design Considerations Consistency and simplicity Safety Environmental/ Organizational Considerations

Documentation -Not only for Human Factors! Written to meet needs of various target populations Study capability and information needs of documentation users –Mental abilities –Physical abilities –Previous experience –Understanding of general operation –Special needs of environment Attempt to avoid this!

Alarms and Signals Purpose is to draw attention of operator 3 categories: –High priority: immediate response required Red flashing light –Medium priority: prompt response required Yellow flashing light –Low priority: awareness required Steady yellow light Audible signal when not in line of sight

Displays Visual displays should clearly indicate system status Graphic displays should be used when perception of pattern of variation is important Numeric displays should be sued when quantitative accuracy is important Displays should be consistent

Interactive Control System response times should be consistent with operational requirements Control-display relationships should be straightforward and explicit Menu selection for interactive controls

Feedback and Error Management/ Data Protection Present status, information, confirmation, and verification throughout the interaction Standby should be accompanied by ‘WAIT’ message Feedback should be self-explanatory Easy methods of correcting errors

Think about: Your limits in designing a new device, such as an anesthesia machine for the third world. Where would you need help?