While no straightforward formula exists for making user-friendly medical devices, we do have an understanding of the key variables that come into play. In usability testing, we assess these variables through observations and interviews. Observations establish the facts on-the-ground (e.g., task performance, timing), while interviews serve to contextualize that information, offering some of the why behind the how. Although testing will not completely solve the problem of fitting users to their products, it does help to simplify design inputs by noting deterministic patterns in user performance.
