<p>In inhalation anesthesia life-support systems are used to provide gases to the patient and to monitor important parameters. These systems are used in dynamic and stressful situations where the information-load on the operators often is significant. This thesis presents a design concept of an anesthetic system. The design goal has been to keep the information-load on the operator low with the objective to minimize confusion and error.</p><p>A number of contextual inquiries were made in the operating room during surgery at four hospitals in Sweden. The goal was to understand the actual use-situations when anesthetic systems are employed. In addition to these inquiries a number of interviews with clinicians were made. The result from the contextual inquiries and the interviews was a set of qualities-in-use; characterizations of the preferred use-qualities of the system. Based on these qualities-in-use the actual design concept was developed. The design concept is described in terms of sketches, scenarios and the qualities-in-use on which it was based. The thesis also includes a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the design concept.</p>

In inhalation anesthesia life-support systems are used to provide gases to the patient and to monitor important parameters. These systems are used in dynamic and stressful situations where the information-load on the operators often is significant. This thesis presents a design concept of an anesthetic system. The design goal has been to keep the information-load on the operator low with the objective to minimize confusion and error. A number of contextual inquiries were made in the operating room during surgery at four hospitals in Sweden. The goal was to understand the actual use-situations when anesthetic systems are employed. In addition to these inquiries a number of interviews with clinicians were made. The result from the contextual inquiries and the interviews was a set of qualities-in-use; characterizations of the preferred use-qualities of the system. Based on these qualities-in-use the actual design concept was developed. The design concept is described in terms of sketches, scenarios and the qualities-in-use on which it was based. The thesis also includes a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the design concept.