'As an example, one UX designer working on a bedside-healthcare application described the environmental complexity faced by medical practitioners using the application and the resulting challenge for practitioners designing the application:

"They (the medical practitioners) have so many things flashing in front of their face at all times...in addition to having to care for the person who's right next to that computer…Making sure that it (the information on the application) is distilled down to exactly what somebody needs, exactly where they need it, is extremely important. " '

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

"Environmental complexity refers to the physical surroundings of complex-app users. These surroundings are often difficult to understand and design for without first hand, real-time field work."

Interruptions in field work might be frequent. It's important then to start in-person testing and research early on.

Environmental Complexity

Quote from Article by UX designer dealing with Environmental Complexity (1)

'Another practitioner in the aerospace/defense industry working on an interface for aerial vehicles described a different yet equally complex environment for pilots:

"The complexity of it is there's so many aspects to it…if you're flying an aircraft, there's the actual aircraft itself, the interior environment, the exterior environment, then the situational awareness, then the health and status of the aircraft or whatever you're controlling." '

Quote from Article by practitioner dealing with Environmental Complexity (2)

'In addition to early field studies, in-situ user testing and evaluation are equally critical. The same usability-engineering lead designing military applications went on to describe the critical findings that testing with complex-app users outside of the lab can reveal:

"We do a lot of performance measurements. For example, the multitouch of a button, say, on a touch screen. There's problems when they (soldiers) have to put on protective gear. A responsive or conductive touch screen doesn't work because it doesn't have the stylus in there…The software may perform correctly in an ideal situation, but when we do our user studies, we'll do it outside (of the lab).” '

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