Industrial Design
Chapter 9
Industrial Design is:
• Service of creating & developing
concepts and specifications that optimize
the function, value, and appearance of
products and systems for the mutual
benefit of the user and manufacturer.
Work also includes:
• User-centered ergonomics
• Improving manufacturing methods
• Client image considerations, including
advertising and layout
• Standards setting & verification
• Normal professional responsibilities
Involved Professions
• Marketing experts – appeal, value
• Design engineers – layout, improv.
– usefulness,
• Biomedical engineers people
Lots of
usability
involved!
• Human factors experts - safety
• Manufacturing engineers - mfgability
• Service personnel – complaints, ease
• Returns - complaints
Industrial Design Steps
• Set usability goals
– Provide quantitative basis
for acceptance testing
– Objective or subjective
– Typically 50 goals, combination objective and
subjective
• Examples
– Anesthetist will rate alarm control/reset controls
as 5 or better on a scale of 1-7
– Machine will be calibrated and ready to go in 30
seconds or less
Industrial Design Steps (ctd.)
• Design user interface concepts
– Develop conceptual model
– Develop user interface structure
– Define interaction style
– Develop screen template
– Develop hardware layout
– Develop a screenplay
– Develop a refined design
– Develop final design
Industrial Design Steps (ctd.)
• Model the user interface
– Build a prototype to evaluate dynamics of user
interface
– Software, hardware, mockup
• Test user interface
– At start of development effort
– When prototype is developed
– When marketing claims may be displayed
– Conferences, office, lunchroom
Specifying the User Interface
• Style guide
• Screen hierarchy
map
• Screenplay
• Specification
prototype
• Hardware layouts
Additional Industrial Design
Considerations
• Consistency and
simplicity
• Safety
• Environmental/
Organizational
Considerations
Documentation
-Not only for Human Factors!
• Written to meet needs of various
target populations
• Study capability and information
needs of documentation users
– Mental abilities
– Physical abilities
– Previous experience
– Understanding of general operation
Attempt to – Special needs of environment
avoid this!
Alarms and Signals
• Purpose is to draw attention of operator
• 3 categories:
– High priority: immediate response required
• Red flashing light
– Medium priority: prompt response required
• Yellow flashing light
– Low priority: awareness required
• Steady yellow light
• Audible signal when not in line of sight
Displays
• Visual displays should clearly indicate
system status
• Graphic displays should be used when
perception of pattern of variation is
important
• Numeric displays should be sued when
quantitative accuracy is important
• Displays should be consistent
Interactive Control
• System response times
should be consistent
with operational
requirements
• Control-display
relationships should be
straightforward and
explicit
• Menu selection for
interactive controls
Feedback and Error Management/ Data
Protection
• Present status, information,
confirmation, and verification
throughout the interaction
• Standby should be accompanied by
‘WAIT’ message
• Feedback should be self-explanatory
• Easy methods of correcting errors
Think about:
• Your limits in designing a new device,
such as an anesthesia machine. Where
would you need help?