Improving medical device usability by reducing complexity using a novel predictive models-based user interface assessment tool

Abstract

This project seeks to improve medical device usability through the development of a novel assessment tool generated in Microsoft Excel to predict and analyze the time and mental effort required for various operators when using medical device hardware and smartphone mobile application dyads. This assessment tool uses operators previously validated in FLM and MTM-1 predictive models for other applications to analyze the perceptual, cognitive, and action-based steps associated with use of such device-application dyads (Karger & Bayha, 1987; Lee et al., 2015). By using this tool, we can identify opportunities to focus user interface design and usability research efforts to minimize complexity before users take it upon themselves to do so, ultimately creating safer and more effective products for patients. The objective of the analysis conducted with the user interface (UI) assessment tool outlined below was to demonstrate a proof of concept that can be validated with future research.

Keywords

• Predictive models
• Task analysis
• Mental and physical effort
• Medical devices
• Mobile medical applications