U N D E R T H E M I C R O S C O P E great medical product and the impact it has on the medical care people receive .
Sadly , AI also has a negative influence within the MedTech sector . Many pseudo-medical apps and systems claim to be valid replacements for actual medical care . This predatory phenomenon is gaining a lot of traction , as the apps take users ’ money through persuasive interactions without actually helping them . The consequences are disastrous for patients . I ’ m surprised that any of these products are allowed to exist , considering that they ’ re completely unethical and they hurt the credibility of the medical sector .
Could you share an example of a project where you applied cognitive science principles to design deliverables ? How did this approach improve the usability or impact of the product ?
We recently worked on the interface for a sonic cutter and it was an extremely formative experience . The device came with its own unique set of challenges . It was going to be used in an environment with a lot of light , so our design had to account for glare .
Ethics in UX design is a growing concern , especially in fields like MedTech . What ethical considerations do you prioritise when designing medical devices and software , and how do you ensure these are consistently applied throughout the design process ?
Ethics in the medical sector is extremely important , but when it comes to software and devices , the approach is often narrow-minded . While a lot of medical product companies make sure that their products are accessible and safe ( i . e . compliant to strict regulations ), usability is frequently overlooked . UX design suited to users costs more , thus turning an ethical aspect into a business one . Poorly made devices don ’ t just have ethical shortcomings , they can actually have long-reaching consequences on the quality of the medical act . Doctors dealing with burn out are stretched thin by poorly designed devices , meaning they ’ re unable to provide top care and can only take on a limited number of patients . My approach would be to prioritise the wellbeing of physicians . �
The screen is also very small , and the user flows were complex . It ’ s also meant to be used with the medical professional ’ s non-dominant hand . The screen needed high accuracy response rates , as we wanted the doctor to be able to pay attention to their patient , not the interface .
From the way doctors processed light with their peripheral vision to ensuring that their hand motricity flows naturally , we adapted the screen to the human mind . UX is not about colour theory , shortcuts or trends . Mind-screen interaction needs to be complementary and feel natural . This is how we prevent medical errors and preserve cognitive resources .
Your work spans various industries , including collaborations with companies like Miele and Ford . What challenges do you typically face when translating UX principles across such diverse sectors , and how do you overcome them ?
There ’ s a lot of pre-established domain knowledge in terms of processes and devices in the industries we work with . Competitive pressure is what triggers most companies to embrace innovation , especially from a UX standpoint . Professionals have what I like to call a legacy bias , the ‘ This is how we ’ ve always done it ’. So , my team and I need to tread carefully and balance learning about the industry , gaining trust and distinguishing among essential and cumbersome aspects of their user experience . We need to show respect for the legacy and build upon it . We make it a point to empathise with the users and identify their pain points .
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