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Heuristic walkthrough evaluation of a prototype computer network service for occupational therapists
N Hallberg1, T Timpka, V Vimarlund
1MDA, Departments of Computer Science and Social Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden. nikha@ida.liu.se
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|June 29, 1999
Summary
A computer network service can aid occupational therapy development by organizing work groups and providing assistive technology databases. Heuristic evaluation identified key design needs like navigation and content for such systems.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Occupational Therapy
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- The occupational therapy profession requires advanced tools for professional development and resource access.
- Information systems can potentially support the evolving needs of allied health professions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the utility and design requirements for a computer network service tailored to occupational therapists.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of heuristic walkthroughs in identifying system design criteria.
Main Methods:
- A heuristic walkthrough evaluation was conducted on a prototype computer network service.
- Evaluators, comprising information system design experts and occupational therapists, explored the prototype and provided feedback in plenary sessions.
Main Results:
- Key utility criteria included the ability to form dynamic work groups for professional development and access to assistive technology databases.
- Essential system design criteria identified were intuitive navigation, logical structure, functional tools, and relevant content.
Conclusions:
- Computer network services hold significant potential to advance the occupational therapy profession.
- Generic design considerations, such as navigation, structure, tools, and content, are crucial for developing effective systems.
- Heuristic walkthroughs proved valuable in identifying critical design issues for this type of specialized network service.