Text input in hospital settings using IoT device ensembles

Abstract

Care processes in hospitals require intensive communication between stakeholders, interaction with technology and documentation of processes. In any of these cases, text plays a central role. Variable and adaptive text input methods can enhance workflows approaching quality, time, hygiene and resource management. Touchless technologies and speech input offer promising new input methods. Especially, the Internet of Things (IoT) offers plenty of opportunities for the separation of input and output interaction devices, and the adaptive and context-aware provision of wirelessly connected compositions of smart devices (IoT-ensembles) fulfilling the specific needs of all relevant stakeholders of the care process. This paper analyzes empirically the requirements and possible integrations for text input device ensembles within hospitals using the process of Human-Centered Design (ISO 9241-210). The results were used as the methodical base to design a concept, to build an appropriate prototype, and to evaluate usability according to ISO 9241-11. The participants of the evaluation confirmed an improvement of efficiency or effectiveness for dedicated situations by using the provided devices.