Thought Leadership
Insights, publications, and presentations from the Loring Human Factors team on human factors engineering, usability, and medical device development.
Blog
Recent articles from the LHF team on usability, regulatory expectations, and product development.
Featured Books
Selected books and published contributions that reflect Beth Loring’s experience in usability, contextual inquiry, and human-centered product development.
Contributor
Contextual Inquiry
for Medical Device
Design
by Mary Beth Privitera
Available at
Co-Author
Moderating Usability Tests
Principles and Practices for Interacting
by Joe Dumas and Beth Loring
Available at
Contributor
Understanding Your Users
A Practical Guide to User Requirements
by Kathy Baxter & Catherine Courage
Available at
Published articles and conference presentations reflecting our team's experience in usability, human factors, and product development.
Publications &
Presentations
Toward Never Doing Known Use Problem Analysis Again
Hartzell, C. and Gade, P. (2025)
Poster Presentation at the 14th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
Bringing Usability Studies to Rate Participant Populations
Omar, S. and Hartzell, C. (2025)
Poster Presentation at the 14th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
Judging a Book by its Cover: Assessing Sterile Barrier Packaging Systems
Reed, L. and Hemmelmann, J. (2024)
Presentation to the 13th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
Using Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Known Use Problem Analyses
Hartzell, C. and Gade P. (2024)
Poster Presentation at the 13th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
Don't Underestimate the Value of Task Analysis
Reed, L. (2022)
Presentation to the 10th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
User Mishandling: Design for Users and Use Environment
Hartzell, C. (2021)
Presentation to the Virtual Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
On Your Best Behavior: Applying the Science of Behavior Change to Medical Device Design
Reed, L. and MacNamee, K. (2020)
Presentation to the 8th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
An Exploration of Innovations in Patient Compliance and Adherence
Reed, L. and Gunther, L. (2019)
Presentation as part of a Business Review Webinar.
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Preventing Harm from Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures with a Risk-Based Analysis Approach
Justinvil, G. et al (2019)
Journal of the American College of Radiology; 2019:16-1144-1152, published by Elsevier.
Reed, L. and Berry, K. (2018)
Presentation to the 7th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
Improving the U.S. Adult Immunization Schedule by Applying Usability Principles
Chen, DW., Schaeffer, L., Preusse, K., Gable, T., Hartzell, C., McGlynn, S., Yoo, A., Gipson, C. (2018)
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Recruiting Patients with Rare Diseases and Their Caregivers
Loring, B. and Wan, J. (2017)
Presented at the HFES 2017 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, New Orleans, LA.
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Healthcare Facility Access Challenges for Conducting User Research
Loring, B. et al. (2017)
Panel discussion moderated at the HFES 2017 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, New Orleans, LA.
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Expectations influence visual search performance
Hartzell, C and Thomas, R.P. (2017)
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Understanding the Central Sterile Use Environment and Reprocessing Challenges
Reed, L. and Kwinn, C. (2015)
Presentation to the 4th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
Medical Device Reprocessing Challenges
Reed, L. and Kwinn, C. (2015)
MassMedic Webinar presentation
The IRB Melee
Reed, L., Loring, B. & Privitera, M.B. (2014)
Panel discussion moderated at the IDSA Medical Design Conference, Tampa, FL.
Visualizing Surgical Procedures
Rudolph, J. and Loring, B. (2013)
Poster presented at the HFES 2013 International Symposium of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, Baltimore, MD.
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Watch the Sterile Field – Conducting Research in the OR
Loring, B. and Rudolph, J. (2013)
Proceedings of the Boston UXPA Chapter, 12th Annual Conference, Boston, MA.
SLIDESHARE
Medical Simulation Centers: Selection and Tips from the Field
Reed, L. and Pellegrino, L. (2013)
Presentation to the 2nd Annual International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare
The Rise of Mobile Health and the Importance of Human Factors
Reed, L. (2012)
Article written for MEDdesign's Blog.
Usability in Medical Product Development – Farm’s Approach
Loring, B (2011)
Presented at the seminar, “Use only the users and create useful products” Copenhagen, Denmark.
Conducting Research in the Operating Room
Loring, B and Rudolph, J. (2011)
Proceedings of the Usability Professionals Association 20th Annual Conference. UPA: Bloomingdale, IL.
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Usability Testing for FDA Validation
Loring, B. (2010)
Proceedings of the Boston Usability Professionals Association Chapter, 9th Annual Conference, Waltham, MA.
PDF
User Research Improves Laparoscopic Instruments
Loring, B. and Lemieux, E. (2009)
Ergonomics in Design, Vol. 17, No. 4, Fall 2009. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Santa Monica, CA.
How Research Informs Medical Device Design
Loring, B. and Anderson, R. (2009)
Proceedings of the Boston Usability Professionals Association Chapter, 8th Annual Conference, Waltham, MA.
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Conducting Field Studies with Older Adults
Engdahl, K., Leclerc, K. and Loring, B. (2009)
User Experience, Vol. 8, Issue 1. UPA: Bloomingdale, IL.
Moderating Usability Tests: 10 Golden Rules
Dumas, J. and Loring, B. (2008)
Proceedings of the Boston Usability Professionals Association Chapter, 7th Annual Conference, Waltham, MA.
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Web 2.0: Developments in User Experience, Brand Strategy, and Rich Internet Applications
Loring, B. (2007)
Proceedings of the Boston Usability Professionals Association Chapter, 6th Annual Conference, Waltham, MA.
Perfecting Your Participant Interaction Skills
Dumas, J. and Loring, B. (2006)
Tutorial presented at the Usability Professionals Association 15th Annual Conference. UPA: Bloomingdale, IL.
Usability and Marketing: How the Convergence is Affecting Us
Loring, B. and Dmitrieva, L. (2006)
Proceedings of the Boston Usability Professionals Association Chapter, 5th Annual Conference, Framingham, MA.
Tips from an Online Card Sort
Loring, B. (2006)
Proceedings of the Boston Usability Professionals Association Chapter, 5th Annual Conference, Framingham, MA.
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User-Centered Design of Lifeline Systems’ Documentation
Loring, B. and Prenovitz, W. (2005)
Proceedings of the Aging by Design 2nd Annual Conference, Bentley College, Waltham, MA.
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Designing an Intelligent Intranet Search
Loring, B. and Lynch, K. (2005)
Proceedings of Usability Professionals Association, 14th Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. UPA: Bloomington, IN.
Perfecting Your Participant Interaction Skills
Dumas, J. and Loring, B. (2005)
Tutorial presented at the Usability Professionals Association 14th Annual Conference. UPA: Bloomington, IN.
Our Responsibility to the User
Loring, B. (2004)
Presented at the Industrial Design Society of America’s Northeast Regional Conference. IDSA: Boston, MA.
Usability Engineering in the Product Design Process
Choi, S. and Loring, B. (2002)
DesignNet Magazine, Vol. 63, Seoul, South Korea.
Usability of Emergency Medical Devices: Assessment and Design Implications
Fisher, J. and Loring, B. (2002)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 46th Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
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Conducting Bilingual User Research
Loring, B. (2002)
Proceedings of Usability Professionals Association, 2002 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. UPA: Dallas, TX.
Selecting Cities for Usability Research
Loring, B. (2001)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 45th Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
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Handling Awkward Usability Testing Situations
Loring, B. and Patel, M. (2001)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 45th Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
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Looking and Seeing: The Market and the Individual
Loring, B. and Marsh, M. (1997)
Proceedings of Usability Professionals Association. 1997 Conference, Monterey, CA. UPA: Dallas, TX.
Design of a Touch Screen Microwave Oven for Older Consumers
Loring, B. (1995)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 39th Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
Usability Engineering at Dun & Bradstreet Software
Wilson, C., Loring, B., Conte, L., and Stanley, K. (1994)
Chapter in Usability in Practice: How Companies Develop User-Friendly Products, M. Wiklund (Ed.). Cambridge, MA: The Academic Press.
Survey on Older Consumers and Home Electronics: Trends and Usability Issues
Loring, B. (1993)
Proceedings of INTERFACE '93. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
Multiple Formats for the Presentation of Route Guidance Information
Wiklund, M., Loring, B., Marcus, A., Galle, G., and Letz, G. (1993)
Proceedings of INTERFACE '93. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
Menu System Suited to Novice and Experienced Users of an Automobile Navigation System
Loring, B., Wiklund, M., and Smith, C. (1992)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 36th Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
User Performance on Typing Tasks Involving Reduced-size, Touch Screen Keyboards
Coleman, M., Loring, B., and Wiklund, M. (1991)
Proceedings of VNIS '91. IEEE, Piscataway, NJ.
Human Factors Design of an AIDS Prevention Pamphlet
Wiklund, M. and Loring, B. (1990)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 34th Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
Developing a New Voluntary Safety Standard for Step Stools
Loring, B. (1989)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 33rd Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
Improving Swimming Pool Warning Signs
Loring, B. and Wiklund, M. (1988)
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society, 32nd Annual Meeting. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, CA.
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