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New Planmeca Compact i
instrument console design
– art, science
or both?
COPY LEENA AALTONEN IMAGES TIMO SILVONEN
instrument is activated, it can be brought back
26 on screen with a simple swipe on the touch
screen."
Another important improvement is the
timer that, in addition to the memory slot,
shows also its preset time. The instructive
help and error messages introduced in the
At early stages, when features, manufacturing previous Planmeca Compact i model were
technologies and the product concept are still New GUI platform included, as well as an extensive number of
being discussed, the most efficient way to study additional languages.
design options is sketching by hand. "The future of user interfaces lies in
adaptability. Freeing ourselves from physical Aesthetics
buttons lets us develop and expand the Beauty is a science that is thousands of years
Planmeca has created user interface endlessly," state Planmeca's old. The industrial designers at Planmeca
a new graphical user interface industrial designers. know what people consider to be beautiful
because they know why. The proportions,
"We wanted to keep the working method
(GUI) platform for its renowed of the new touch panel close to the previous the "aerodynamic" look of a console and the
Planmeca Compact i unit, based one so that the introduction of the new console poise of a dental unit and so on, they are
on touch screen technology. would be easy without requiring an extra never born by accident.
learning period from existing users."
The main visual elements of all
With all-new GUI hardware, the "With the new touch panel, in any given Planmeca Compact units must communicate
Planmeca Compact i instrument situation, only the required functions can be The Planmeca industrial
console was redesigned. At the presented to the user. By monitoring the work design principles:
same time many improvement flow of dentists and hygienists the layout of
proposals of dental professionals the icons could be organised according to their • Efficient workflow
could be fulfilled. The designers functions. The icons for active instruments,
for example, will appear at the bottom of the • Healthy medical team
control panel as close to the user as possible.
tell how the console was created. Whileinstrumentslieatrest,theiriconsarenot • Relaxed patient
• Long lasting aesthetic
shown to prevent them from stealing attention
from more important actions. However, if
another function needs to be used while an
