ABSTRACT
The application of mobile technologies to improve medicine at the point of care is quickly expanding. While there is a desire to increase the reach of health monitoring and diagnostics, designers and developers should consider the user and usability of these applications. Applying a thorough usability engineering process during product development can mean the difference between a medical device being widely adopted versus being subjected to a recall. Most people have had the experience of becoming frustrated with a product that was not as simple to use as desired or expected. These types of products are more likely to be set aside unused, or perhaps they will be used differently than intended. As new technologies extend to the bedside and home use, their benefits (both medical and economic) will be lost if they result in incorrect or delayed diagnoses, unexpected office or hospital visits, or more complicated patient treatments. Usability engineering can provide guidance and structure for establishing that the product can be successfully and safely used by the target user in its intended environment. In doing so, it helps companies avoid the
7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 133 7.2 Standards, References, and Guidance Related to Usability Engineering ..... 135 7.3 Practical Application of Usability Engineering ............................................ 135 7.4 Usability Evaluations .................................................................................... 139 7.5 Usability Validation Testing Steps ................................................................ 140
7.5.1 Setting Usability Objectives ............................................................. 140 7.5.2 Planning and Protocols ..................................................................... 140 7.5.3 Study Execution ................................................................................ 142 7.5.4 Data Analysis and Reporting ............................................................ 143
7.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 143 References .............................................................................................................. 144
unacceptable financial and human costs required to support a suboptimal product, enhances the user experience, and reduces risk by eliminating use errors.
