When users look up laboratory reports using web browsers on our systems we
now offer contextually linked advice for each result. The current sources of
this advice are our own laboratory handbook, other internal documents such as
guidelines, and one external knowledgebase: the CATbank from the Centre for
Evidence Based Medicine (http://cebm.jr2.ox.ac.uk/docs/catbank.html).
If anyone is interested we'll let you know how the technology works.
Currently the browser window switches from displaying the laboratory report
to displaying the advisory information. I'm trying to work out whether it
would be better to open a second window for the advisory information, while
maintaining the window which displays reports.
One window solution
Advantages
1 Simpler HCI: only one window on the screen
Disadvantages
2 Requires control mechanisms in the advisory system to get back to the lab
reports
Two window solution
Advantages
1 No extra control mechanisms (this may become the dominant factor when we
link to more knowledgebases)
2 The user can navigate further into the knowledgebase, while still being
able to get back to the laboratory reports which are patiently waiting in the
first window
Disadvantages
1 Two windows open on the screen at once
All comments gratefully received.
Jonathan
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