designing invisible interfaces - an approach to user experience for software no one wants to use
DESCRIPTION
Most interface designers assume that users actually want to use their software. But what if focusing on the software is the last thing a user should do? Pathfinder Development introduces the concept of designing "Invisible Interfaces" for this type of user, and illustrates our point with examples from a recent project for health care providers.TRANSCRIPT
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
This Won’t Hurt a BitDesigning Invisible Interfaces for Health Care Providers
Pathfinder Developmenthttp://www.pathf.com
Matthew NolkerSholom Sandalow
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
If you design software for health care
providers, you should be designing invisible
interfaces
2
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
An Invisible Interface:• Accommodates the notion that
interacting with the software is not the primary goal or responsibility of the user
• Allows operation without looking at the interface
• Reduces the time it takes to perform data entry
• Critical in workplaces where using software is a distraction from someone’s primary responsibility
7
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
Invisibility is Another Quality of User Interfaces
8
Intuitive
Efficient
Error Free
Entertaining
Invisible
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 9
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
Things You Learn When You Hang Out at a Blood Bank
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 16
Step 1: No Waiting in Line to Enter Data
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 17
STATUS
Process Data Entry
Step 2: Create a Simple Workflow that Directly Tracks the Phlebotomist’s Donation Process
1 23
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 18
STATUS
Arm Start Time
PREPLOT #1
PREPLOT #2
UP DOWN
START 01:03:09
Arm
SueJohnsonD of B: 10/14/1970
BLEED #
WB 1234567891PROCEDURE
00:00:00ELAPSE TIME
FailDonor Info
ExitMJH
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 19
STATUS
00:00:00WB 1234567891
ARM
Left
CANCEL
Right
Both
SueJohnsonB-day: 10/14/1970
00:00:00
BLEED # ELAPSE TIME
WB 1234567891BLEED #
Donor Info
ExitMJH
Fail
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 20
Arm Start Time
PREPLOT #1
PREPLOT #2
UP DOWN
START 01:03:09
Prep
SueJohnsonD of B: 10/14/1970
BLEED #
WB 1234567891PROCEDURE
00:00:00ELAPSE TIME
FailDonor Info
ExitMJH
RightArm
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 21
STATUS
Please Scan Prep #1
Bar Code
PREP #1
CANCEL
SueJohnsonB-day: 10/14/1970
00:00:00
BLEED # ELAPSE TIME
WB 1234567891BLEED #
Donor Info
ExitMJH
Fail
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 22
Arm Start Time
Prep
UP DOWN
START 01:03:09
Prep
SueJohnsonD of B: 10/14/1970
BLEED #
WB 1234567891PROCEDURE
00:00:00ELAPSE TIME
FailDonor Info
ExitMJH
Arm
927820436
SJohnson
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com 23
STATUS
1 2 3 4
No
Please confirm successful procedure:
Success
SueJohnsonB-day: 10/14/1970
00:00:00
BLEED # ELAPSE TIME
WB 1234567891BLEED #
FailDonor Info
Exit
Cancel
MJH
00:00:00WB 1234567891
Finish
Failure
CANCEL
Success
SueJohnsonB-day: 10/14/1970
00:00:00
BLEED # ELAPSE TIME
WB 1234567891BLEED #
FailDonor Info
Exit
TBD
MJH
Retry
Step 3: Simple, readable and intuitive interaction and information design
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
- Susan McBride, Haemonetics (IDM)
"You know it really works. We laugh about it - we don't even have to demo it, [the phlebotomists] just
take it out of your hands and start using it."
24
Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Associates www.pathf.com
Coming soon:Full copy of the 45 minute World Usability Day presentation on Invisible Interfaces in Health Care
Best Practices for Designing Invisible Interfaces
Developing Invisible Interfaces - How to Build Useable Software with a User Experience Driven Development Process
25