Communicating GUI Requirements for Medical Device Software Takes Words and Pictures, Intertech's Dave Vogel Writes

NORWOOD, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 25, 2006 -- Now that medical device software looks more like personal computer software, communicating graphical user interface requirements has become more challenging because of the need for documented requirements and traceability to designs and verification tests, David Vogel, president of Intertech Engineering Associates, writes in the Oct. 20 issue of Mass High Tech.

"Understanding the problems and giving some forethought about how to deal with GUI requirements will result in shorter requirements and development schedules.....and result in more robust software that meets user and market needs," he writes.

And communicating GUI requirements successfully takes both pictures and words -- and it's the latter that developers often skimp on.

"Developers need words to explicitly describe what is important enough about the picture to become requirements. Testers need to know this too so that their verification tests are neither too superficial nor filled with minutia," Vogel asserts.

For best results, pictures and text medium must stay synchronized. That takes more work, but it's more than offset by overall savings in time and more effective development.

The full article can be read online at http://masshightech.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2006/10/23/focus4html.

Vogel, Ph.D., is president of Intertech Engineering Associates, Inc., in Norwood, Massachusetts. Intertech (www.inea.com) is an outsourced engineering service provider to the medical device industry providing services related to product development and validation, validation of quality and production software, training, and management consulting.

Contact Information: Contact: Henry Stimpson Stimpson Communications 508-647-0705 HStimpson@StimpsonCommunications.com David A. Vogel Intertech 781-255-5420 dav@inea.com