MY ROLE: Interface design, UX Design
COMPANY: Confidential
Rethinking medical ultrasound interface using touch screen technology.
OVERVIEW
I had an opportunity to work with an incredible team of scientists, engineers, doctors and business leaders on designing and developing a state of the art ultrasound machine based on revolutionary technology.
Design at Work was asked to work on designing this medical equipment and developing and building a test model which could be placed in several medical institutions and possibly sold to some of those. We were asked to design the user interface for this unit which was assigned to me.
LEARNING
I conducted a competitive analysis of well established and the more popular sonogram machines of this caliber. I identified the features and requirements that are expected and highlighted opportunities for innovation.
I researched ultrasound technology and the common workflow of technicians by watching youtube videos, identifying their movements and best practices, and reading relevant literature and manuals.
There were no touch screen ultrasound units on the market at that time creating a competitive differentiator.
But considering the long cycle of medical product development and the process of bringing it to the market, we had to look several years ahead.
Touch screens were already highly integrated in our daily lives and medical equipment. We presented this concept to our client and received a green light.
FIELD STUDIES
Key insights were gained through an introduction to a sonographer at a veterinarian hospital who provided access to medical personnel and their patients. Perspectives that made a difference:
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I was in the same room where the procedure was performed
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I had permission to video record this process
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Were given lots of explanations and details on what was happening and how it's done.
Observation and interviews of sonographers in the hospital setting during their regular workday offered real-world insights on the behavior with these devices.
KEY FINDINGS
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a test is performed in a deemed room to increase image contrast
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a sonographer needs to use one hand for interface interaction as second hand is used for holding a probe
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sonographers are not eager to change their workflow, because they spend years in training and perfecting how they do things
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about 60% of technicians perform the test while sitting, the rest prefer standing
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a trackball is used 80% of the time during the exam, it provides a high level of control and performs multiple functions
DESIGN
USER FLOW
I identified a few most common patterns and keystrokes and analyzed user flow to accomplish that specific task. I started thinking about how it could be done with conventional touch screen behavior. It was very important to use familiar patterns, to make a transition smooth and easy.
how to transition
from this
to this
with ease?
There is so much to consider:
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Ergonomics and physical relationships with the unit
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Familiarity: Users are highly trained in what they do and not looking for a change
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Adaptability of this interface to different environments and needs
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Error avoidance
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A clear indication of the different settings and functions during the exam
I was focusing on simplifying the workflow to make the transition between products more desirable.
PROTOTYPING AND TESTING
Based on user flow and identified tasks, I designed wireframes and simple mockups that we were able to test. Working with an image, taking notes, marking specific selection and annotations, performing measurements and saving annotated images are some of the tasks I focus my effort on.
An actual size prototype was built to test the size and relationship of the user and machine. It was also used to test the optimal screen size and position for easy interaction and access.
Identifying the common tasks/keystrokes during an ultrasound examination was an important step. I focused on translating those tasks from a key-heavy console to a touch screen with more intuitive interaction.
The position and grouping of the specific controls and settings needed to be established to guarantee easy and reliable interactions.
I used wireframes for testing and team critique. Based on this input I made improvements and adjustments.
UI DESIGN
While I worked on designing the interface elements I focused on:
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High contrast and clear visual identification of the settings
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Grouping of the elements based on functionality
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Placing elements based on the frequency of use and importance
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Suggesting popular terms and words for quick and easy selection in order to avoid typing
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Soft and pleasant color scheme
INTERFACE
I developed a User Interface for this project, based on the input of highly qualified medical professionals, scientists, engineers, and marketing group.
There weren't many touch screen units available then, but it was an obvious direction for professional medical equipment.
Even I was aware of conservative thoughts this challenge might bring, still, it was the risk worth taking.
PRESENTING
A few design styles were presented to a group of developers, engineers, and doctors. Once the look and feel of the machine were established I designed several key screens.
RESULTS
Testing this design with users allowed me to refine it. After presenting our work to stakeholders and doctors, the test model was built.
We decided to integrate both a keyboard and a touch screen interface for the test model.
In this case, users can accomplish a task in a familiar way but also try new interactions, maybe chose to use both. We would be able to test and learn from these users what revisions could be made.
This was my first digital interface design. It was a very complex but interesting project. I very much enjoyed learning new things and working with very talented and inspiring people.
I learned that I was able to apply the same principles and comprehension as I was already using as an industrial designer.
I recognized my interest in learning more about evolving field of User Interface and User Experience.