Weinmann
The Weinmann company develops medical system solutions for diagnosis and therapy in the fields of sleep medicine, home respiration, oxygen and emergency medical aid. SirValUse has accompanied the concept development of device specifications for a novel home respirator used for the therapy of respiratory failure. The primary goal of the investigation consisted of elaborating precise recommendations for designing an intuitive operational system by means of a usability test.
In exploring the interface it was important to consider that the respirator would be operated by doctors and patients alike; any solution had to satisfy the needs and abilities of both target groups. Thus, the information architecture of the menu, the naming of menu items, as well as the arrangement of symbols and keys were of special significance in developing the concept of an innovative device. A prototype served as test material for the new respirator.
SirValUse established the need for optimisation based on the following methods:
- During the first phase of the project we conducted a Field Observation in a hospital. Doctors dealing with respirators that are already available on the market were observed closely. From this we could derive the actual need for optimisation in order to improve the prototype as regards the equipment and handling of the device and the interface.
- In the course of the second phase we employed an Expert Review. The available prototype was evaluated based on usability criteria specifically developed for this purpose. We were thus able to work out clear-cut recommendations for optimising the interface, the arrangement of the keys, and the symbols used.
Further information on SirValUse.de:
Usability method Field Observation
Usability method Expert Review
Further information about Weinmann:
www.weinmann.de
