Time-Motion Timer Overview

Time-Motion Timer, Columbia Department of Medical Informatics, Jan, 1999

A Java applet for performing complex usability studies.
How it is used
  • This tool is actively being used to assist in the iterative development and assessment of CISIS.
  • I have made this tool freely available in the hopes that it will encourage more researchers to incorporate iterative usability analysis into their product development cycle.
My role
  • As a visiting researcher at Columbia, designed, implemented, and published this Java applet

Applicability to Medical Informatics
Abstract There are several limitations to the paper and stopwatch method of performing time-and-motion studies. Short interval events and rapid sequences are difficult to record because of the delay in checking the stopwatch and manually recording each event. It is nearly impossible to time multiple simultaneous tasks. Paper record forms are difficult to modify when unexpected events are encountered. Lastly, results must be transcribed from the paper forms for computer data analysis, resulting in delays and errors.

As part of the development of a new radiology reporting system, we wished to study the tasks performed by radiologists during review and dictation of examinations. In such settings, radiologists rapidly shift among multiple tasks, some lasting only a few seconds. In addition, radiologists move among multiple viewing stations, making video-based studies problematic. None of the commercially available usability programs included all of the necessary functionality. To address this need, a new data-collection application was developed. This paper describes the Time-Motion Timer, a Java applet created to enable the rapid definition and running of such complex time-and-motion studies.
Reference White T, Tahil FA, and Starren J. Time-Motion Timer: a Tool for Rapidly Defining and Running Usability Tests, under review.