Role of Medical product; Intuitive Usage and User InterfaceRole of Medical product; Intuitive Usage and User Interface

Design Opportunities in Medical Devices for people with Diabetes

From the article focusing on the user interface design needs of people with diabetes, I found some interesting design solutions for the better interface design.

One of the "Medical Product Device Role" I defined was "Intuitive usage", and I think GUI ( Graphic User Interface) plays a important role in here. I will write down several solutions concerning GUI, so we can share the information, and can see what factor makes the product interface better.

1. Give components easy-to-distinguish shapes. For example,

use a combination of rantangular, circular, and triangular push button. / Add pillow-embossed icons, or other types of tactile features that can make product features more identifiable by touch / Make finger and hand contact surface larger than usual, reducing the need for a pich,type grp

2. Ensure Comprehension. For example,

Direct useres to perform procedures in a discrete, step-by-step fashion, as opposed to directing users to perform multiple steps at a time. / Number steps so that users can stay on track and not skip an essential action. / Integrate additional confirmation screens into critical device interactions.

Last time when I had an interview with one anesthetist, she told me that effective interface of the machine can reduce a lot of time during surgery. After I had an interview with her, I realized having a users involved in the design process is very helpful to the manufacture or designer. Not only will such involvment help guide user interface designs to a right direction, also could aid designing successful product device.

Natural Nurser Baby bottle_Medical Product

Natural Nurser Baby bottle

From the medical magazine, I found an interesting baby bottle which just won the 2008 Medical Design Excellence Award, as well as the 2008 Red Dot Design Award.

Unlike the usual glass bottles, which are heavy, unwieldy, and can be easily chipped or broken, this ecological bottle is made of safe plastic material. Besides, it has a revolutionary new breast-like design that mimic mother's breast, and have "Petal vent" which helps avoid the dreaded colic.

This bottle seems to offering an unique tactile experience to the baby with a soft rubbery grip. Due to the polycarbonate-free materials that warm the child's cheek like a breast, when filled with warm milk, baby could go between breast and bottle with little confusion.

I think this nurser bottle is successfully designed, and can be a good example for next generation medical device. The baby bottle has it's own product language, uses environmental-friendly material, and shows a high brand identity.

One thing that does not work well is the "PRICE" of device. $20 for one baby bottle? A good medical product should have a reasonable price, so that most of the people can afford it.