The article displays the process of user testing a new product. The N syringes are being analyzed by rheumatoid arthritis patients and compared to the most common model already in use. The tone of the article made it clear to me it was displaying the last step of the testing process. The article does not explain on which basis the design was conceived but rather uses an approach that aims to validate a new design. The result of the article are also restrained within the study limitations of examining only one position of the patients who were not injecting the medication to themselves but to a skin pad. The fact that one of the authors is the owner of the design company which produced the N syringes should be stated at the end of the article in the “Conflict of interest” section. The tone of the article is academic but it seems that its goal is to validate a design produced by the company of one of the authors. The method used is limited in its scope and sounds more like a company product testing process than an academic research.
Nonetheless, the article gives us an insight on how biomechanics can be used and should be used to conceive and test a product. Ergonomics is the key to create efficient physical interfaces, products and any interactive tool. I have always tough I would use sensors to track or activate interactive interfaces, but this article made me realized I can use them to help me design an interactive object. The are very useful to measure the force and the grip of users.
Also, the article shows us how important it is to organize a well conducted user testing phase. For any interactive device that would be displayed in a public space, a variety of participants should be involved to make sure the interactive devices can be used by everyone. Also, it is important to analyze an interactive interface using a biomechanics approach as it can point out within which physical limitation the users can use it.