A clear, well designed interface can mean the difference between a product’s success or failure.

A device required to disseminate vital information to the surgeon and nurses, for example, must be easily readable from across the room, and an LCD might not be bright enough to read at the specified distance. Since a VFD (vacuum florescent display) can be difficult to read at angles if the contrast is not bright, it’s essential to understand where those accessing the information will be standing throughout the procedure. And, since the people in the room will be wearing gloves, button size, orientation, spacing, etc. (and whether a touch screen is even appropriate for the tasks at hand) all must be considered.

Alternately, a device to be used and carried all day by a child would have entirely different requirements, including durability, ergonomic, and aesthetic concerns that are not relevant to the design of a device that never leaves a doctor’s office. Since just about everybody interacts with technology in their lives (be it a smartphone, computer, or gaming system) some of the functionality, aesthetics and methods of information delivery seen in those products can be successfully applied to such a device to make it more intuitive and familiar feeling. A device designed for a child might, for example, feature a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” graphic instead of potentially confusing (and intimidating) numeric results to effectively communicate information to a younger user.

Future: Tele-driven

The importance of interface design will only continue to grow and become more central to device development as the emerging tele-health industry takes off; the benefits offered by wireless connectivity between and among medical devices will naturally drive increased functionality and interaction to the software side of product development. Designing to support electronic medical records and constant, real-time monitoring of myriad health and wellness metrics (to be shared among multiple people and institutions) will also present opportunities for device manufacturers.

With more tools at their fingertips, user-interface designers will have a unique opportunity to turn the world of medical devices on its head- and make interaction with both technology and caretakers a more personal experience that can ultimately aid in healing.