The design of neonatal incubators: a systems-oriented, human-centered approach. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: This report describes a multidisciplinary design project conducted in an academic setting reflecting a systems-oriented, human-centered philosophy in the design of neonatal incubator technologies. STUDY DESIGN: Graduate students in Architectural Design and Human Factors Engineering courses collaborated in a design effort that focused on supporting the needs of three user groups of incubator technologies: infant patients, family members and medical personnel. Design teams followed established human-centered design methods that included interacting with representatives from the user groups, analyzing sets of critical tasks and conducting usability studies with existing technologies. RESULT: An iterative design and evaluation process produced four conceptual designs of incubators and supporting equipment that better address specific needs of the user groups. CONCLUSION: This report introduces the human-centered design approach, highlights some of the analysis findings and design solutions, and offers a set of design recommendations for future incubation technologies.

published proceedings

  • J Perinatol

altmetric score

  • 1.35

author list (cited authors)

  • Ferris, T. K., & Shepley, M. M.

citation count

  • 16

complete list of authors

  • Ferris, TK||Shepley, MM

publication date

  • January 2013