Professional user interfaces can impose additional cognitive load on their users. Visual clutter and scrolling obstruct reading and the search for critical information. Designers can optimise interfaces to support efficient reading, but a method to edit and populate those interfaces introduces a further challenge.
I conducted a literature review to identify the drawbacks of existing interface solutions and to determine how screens can be optimised for information presentation. The project focused on searching and reading medical records.
Applying the findings from the literature review and following the design thinking method, I proposed a general design hypothesis for enabling input on screens optimised for reading. The solution preserved the screen's original layout by using separated fixed panels that contained only the instructions required for each input task.
I then used the keystroke-level model (KLM) to evaluate the solution's efficiency for expert users. Finally, I conducted an empirical study to assess its efficiency for inexperienced users.
The results showed that the proposed design solution matched or exceeded the efficiency of the conventional interfaces. Furthermore, the reading-optimised screen produced significantly shorter task times and lower mouse travel than the standard option.
