Volunteers needed for NHS Office UI testing

The call for participation came at last week’s Care Record Development Board (CRDB) conference at a session devoted to exploring how the new bespoke interface for the NHS would be developed.

The aim is speed up the process of dealing with patients and reduce the risks introduced when users are unfamiliar with systems.

Microsoft user experience architect, Alison Clark took the audience through some of the steps needed to make the experience of using the system as consistent as possible. 

Clark outlined the process which starts with ‘wireframes’ – black and white drawings that map out the functional elements of the system.  The next step is a usability evaluation in which users are shown early designs and asked for feedback. Only then are visual prototypes developed and subjected to hand-on testing.

“There’s user involvement at all stages in the design," said Clark explaining that the aim was to combine clinical best practice and industry user interface best practice.

Microsoft is developing the new user interface as part of its deal with the NPfIT last month to supply a long-term licencing agreement for Windows. The interface will provide a standard structure and look tol NHS computer hardware. A toolkit which will enable third-party software developers to interface with the bespoke Windows system is also to be developed.

Anyone interested in volunteering to test the UI should register with the CRDB here. State your interest in the user interface testing in the relevant box on the online registration form and your details will be passed on to the user interface team.

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