As part of an internship, I worked on a team to conduct a human factors analysis on a dental scanner. The analysis focused on the user interface and dealt with screen layout, image projection, and icon usage. The results, including prototypes, were compiled into a formal document and presented to the client.

After using the scanner for a period of time, we noticed that the image on screen sometimes did not match up with what was expected. To better understand what was going on, we recorded the screen while using the scanner and replayed the video. Once the particular segment of interest was identified, we used Windows Movie Maker to manipulate the video to experiment with different methods of interaction. From there, recommendations were made to improve the user experience.

This project taught me the importance of immersing yourself in a product before jumping into solutions. Something that seems unnatural to the designer may be entirely natural for the target users. For example, the users in this case were dentists and dental assistants. Dentists use a mirror to look at teeth, so they are accustomed to viewing mirror images. An image that seems awkward to me could be the prefered view for a dentist. Learning to think like the users opened my eyes to a whole new set of design suggestions.