Human computer interfaces for telesurgery

The increase in initiatives spawning projects in telesurgery will shift the emphasis and application from the research and development laboratory, into the realm of the non-technical telesurgeon. As this happens there will be a subtle re-prioritising of user requirements, with usability moving ahead of functionality. The clinical trials would prove the functionality, but the usability evolves, often with no structure, over the life of the project. The human computer interface (HCI) in these projects is often put together by engineers with a little understanding of the common HCI principles (Schneiderman, 1987) and the surgeons´ process of telesurgery. Here, the author outlines some of the current methods used to bring the telesurgeon closer to the patient by the use of various HCI methods. The ultimate aim of the HCI in this application is to try to compensate for the communication medium and protocol, to make it transparent. The patient and surgeon will therefore move `virtually´ closer together, and the subsequent provision of suitable tools for the surgeon to operate (remotely) on the patient