Informative imaging of multiple parameters for the practice of the anesthesiologist

The development of informative design principles is necessary to permit logical, informative and understandable computer-aided imaging of the flood of measured parameters the practising anesthesiologist is currently confronted with. The computer-assisted workplace, furthermore, can use the computer to close the loop from sensor to therapy through software directed feed back control mechanisms. The general principles of information design should be based on the rule of three derived from the limited visual integration capacity of the human brain. Thus multiple parameters should be logically grouped in blocks of three strictly distinct from each other in the visual display output. Alarm signalisations have to include two senses: visual and audible and should use the large range of variability that is possible to make them distinct from each other. The operational keyboard should be logically designed with grouping in three parts: 1. a group of buttons for activation of operational screen information that appear with never more than three at the same time; 2. buttons for presetting of wanted parameter values, of alarm limits and for introduction of patient data with adjoint but strictly separated OK-mode necessity to alert that change is being made. 3. a row of buttons separated from the normal operational keyboard area for emergency changes and computer feed back mode bypass, for example. The most illogical, unoverseeable and confusing computeraided workplace can be organized to a fully assisting anesthesia workplace if proper design is applied. The use of a users' manual should be rendered unnecessary even to a computer-naive user. This can be achieved through adequate informative design and operational information flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)