Improving software environments through usability and interaction design

Abstract

This paper introduces the fields of usability and interaction design in order to highlight their benefits and provide further resources for those that wish to find out more. It is hoped that this review will encourage medical illustrators to adopt certain principles and practices in their own project work, in order to strive towards (and ultimately produce) products and environments that provide more positive interactions for their users. Usability and interaction design are fields of study concerned with aims relating to ensuring that any given interactive product or environment is efficient, effective and safe to use, as well as easy to learn and remember. Of primary importance is the experience of the user whose interactions should be positive, as opposed to frustrating or counter‐intuitive.