One of the latest industries to take the market by storm is the wearables industry for fitness and healthcare. In an effort to reduce time spent in hospitals, doctors’ offices and clinics, patients are being urged to take a roll in their own healthcare but the problem is that many of the wearables and mobile devices they connect through are just not user-friendly.
There seems to be a growing problem with the way in which developers are programming the UI (User Interface) and many users simply are unable to use the products as they were intended to be used. If you are an app developer working with the healthcare industry, you really should understand why UI is a vital concern for patients.
Keep the Patient’s State of Health in Mind
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to the UI for your healthcare app is the fact that most people in need of this app are patients and some of them are suffering from terminal or highly debilitating illnesses. Because of this they are not really on top of their game as they would be if healthy, so it is your responsibility as a healthcare app developer to make the interface as user-friendly as possible. If they cannot quickly and easily operate the device and its software, then it does them no good.
Many patients are, to put it simply, just too sick to be bothered reading lengthy manuals or watching hours of video tutorials. All interaction with the device and program should be a simple one-touch experience from screen to screen or command to command.
Industry Standards Are Important
Today’s developers and programmers need to be fluent in both HTML5 and Angular 2 Development which are industry standards at this time. The reason for this is because there may come a time when someone other than yourself, as the original developer, may need to make some slight amendments or variations to your app. This is most often the case with open-source apps, but even with patented apps some developers leave the door open for updates.
Address These Elements for an Efficient User Interface
Every effort should be made to make every interaction between the patient and the device as simple as possible. This means that several elements must be taken into consideration. An efficient user interface would focus on:
- The screen / display
- Illumination
- Keyboard / On-screen keyboard
- Stylus / pen
- Mouse
- Desktop Appearance
- Communication / Messages
- Help Center & Messages
- Web Interface
These are all vital concerns when developing a healthcare app for patient devices and if they are not easy to use and navigate, you can expect most patients will not make best use of the device. That’s the truth of the matter and why it is your responsibility as a healthcare app developer to ensure an efficient UI.
Healthcare wearables, devices and apps are huge at the moment as the industry seeks to provide a way in which patients can take an active role in their own treatment. With a shortage of medical personnel, these apps enable more patients to get the care they need timely and so the devices and apps they use need to be, for lack of a better way of putting it, usable. That is your goal and your primary focus – excellence in the UI.
