Developing an advanced 'tool' for the clinician; using industrial design and interface design together to bring technology into the hand of the user

A discussion is given on the unique, user-centered design process applied in developing a portable blood gas analysis device. The designers using this process actively and continually drew upon the knowledge and experiences of people who will ultimately use the product. The outcome is a 'tool' that enables people in medical settings to perform a task previously unavailable to them, on-site real-time blood gas analysis. As a tool, the device needed to provide the functions in the most efficient and effective manner. To understand what product interface would be needed to accomplish this, potential end-users were involved throughout the design process. The paper focuses on this user-centered development process that literally brought the device into the hands of clinicians.<>