Interruptions, Memory and Situational Awareness

“Unless it produces action, information is overhead.” –Thomas Petzinger First, a caveat: vendors of HISs (hospital information systems) and EDISs (emergency department information systems) insist that a tracking system is just one component of an integrated system. They point out that there are interactions between a tracking system and CPOE (computer-based practitioner order entry) systems, […]

Usability, Learnability, Memorability

(A version of this series was first published in the newsletter of the Informatics Section of the American College of Emergency Physicians) Those of you who know me (or maybe have just heard about me) know that I am a zealot about user interface design. With good reason! Those who think they are computer-illiterate are […]

Robustness

Robust. My dictionary defines it as ro·bust, adj. 1.strong and healthy; hardy; vigorous: a robust young man; a robust faith; a robust mind. 2.strongly or stoutly built: his robust frame. 3.suited to or requiring bodily strength or endurance: robust exercise. 4.rough, rude, or boisterous: robust drinkers and dancers. 5.rich and full-bodied: the robust flavor of […]