The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM www.siim.org) is the source for objective, accessible knowledge in imaging informatics. On the human side, SIIM is one of the most recognized names in imaging informatics and informatics across the health enterprise. As integrated veterinary practices become more and more common the work SIIM does will become more and more relevant to veterinarians. To introduce the work of SIIM to the veterinary market, SIIM has allowed us to repurpose articles from their publications. Readers are encouarged to check out SIIM, sign up for a membership, and attend the yearly meeting.
This month we have an excerpt from the SIIM expert hotline...
QUESTION: I’ve searched the web and forums looking to find standardization regarding the many icons end users see throughout the entire gamut of health care applications. Do standard icons exist? If so, could you please point me in the right direction?
The only resource that I’ve found is Microsoft’s Common User Interface guide, found here: http://www.mscui.net/DesignGuide/ IconsSymbology.aspx
SIIM EXPERT HOTLINE RESPONSE #1: Unfortunately, there is no standard for workstation icons. There are obviously similarities, but manufacturers fiercely protect their workstation user interfaces. Icon designs are often copyrighted. Vendors view icons as a way of differentiating products, so it is unlikely, despite huge user interest in having standardized icons that vendors would agree to them. The major computer operating system vendors – Apple and Microsoft – have user interface guidelines that dictate some standardization of icon types for certain uses. I am quite sure, however, that a glance at the Apple dock (if you are a Mac user) or your desktop (for Windows users) will show a huge array of icons, as each application tends to have a specific icon design.
A much stronger argument could be made for standardizing icons for the computer-controlled interfaces for imaging equipment. This is a safety issue since, for example, if the icon that fires the exposure for a radiograph is too similar to the icon that causes the x-ray table to move (or placed too close to it), a patient could receive an unintended exposure.
SIIM EXPERT HOTLINE RESPONSE #2: An IHE integration profile is being developed. “Basic Image Review” addresses some of this problem. It “suggests” icons as well as some “customs” for user interaction for common PACS operations.
The draft of the proposal can be seen at: http:// www.ihe.net/Technical_Framework/upload/IHE- RAD_TF_Suppl_Basic_Image_Review_2009-03- 23.pdf
For more information about SIIM please visit the SIIM website at www.siimweb.org