Advanced Input Systems
Offering Intuitive HMI Products for Infection Control

Human-Machine Interface (HMI) systems in healthcare facilities are handled continuously by many, making them the perfect breeding grounds for germs. Although HMIs are designed with cleanable surfaces, and anti-microbial materials for eliminating the risk of infection, healthcare personnel must ensure consistent cleaning, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This calls for an easy-to-use HMI system that is robust enough to withstand the exposure to harsh cleaning and maintenance procedures. Taking these requirements into consideration and synthesizing them into an appropriate design is Advanced Input Systems, a global provider of HMI products for the medical market. The company places great emphasis on infection control and has its own line of intuitive and reliable HMI products, including touch displays, infection control keyboards, OnGlass controls, elastomer buttons, and membranes to help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections. “We have a comprehensive understanding of infection control in the hospital environment. This has enabled us to develop HMI devices in accordance with the clients’ requirements, thus improving their overall HMI experience,” states Eric Ballew, President, Advanced Input Systems.

One of the offerings from Advanced Input Systems for better hygiene is the Medigenic infection control keyboard, a medical-grade cleanable keyboard, specifically developed with assistance from the University College of London Hospital (UCLH). A clinical study conducted by UCLH concluded that “the keyboard has a completely flat profile, a cleaning alarm, and a silicone-coated surface which are the most important features in achieving low bacterial counts on high contact keyboards.”

Equipped with a high-quality, scissor-key mechanism with an impeccable tactile response enabling quick and easy-touch typing, it also features backlit keys that help users work in low-light environments, and a 1M+ lifecycle specification for high durability. Most importantly, Advanced Input Systems has ensured that a busy hospital environment should not prevent one from regularly cleaning the keyboard. The patented time or keystroke-based reminder embedded into the keyboard alerts the staff to clean it regularly and uses built-in sensors to confirm the action has been completed. Users can set the intervals between alarms via a utility software to align the keyboard’s alerts with the mandates of the facility.

Unlike other hospital-grade keyboards, Medigenic keyboards are designed to be cleaned right where they are used, saving the medical professionals a considerable amount of time. The keyboard also comes with support guidelines for basic installment, helping the IT staff to easily set it up according to the facility’s protocols. Additionally, the company offers factory support for product updates and services along with the support from its resellers to improve the user experience.

Advanced Input Systems’ innovation and uniqueness have led its product to gain enormous acclaim in hospital environments throughout the world. Viewing the macro-level technology trends of hospitals and surgery centers, the company is actively developing products that encompass a range of human-to-machine technology trends from IoT devices, mixed-modality touch surfaces to touchless interfaces, as well as next-generation virtual reality training and telerobotic wearable products. “We continue to deliver innovative products utilizing a range of technologies to create an intuitive HMI experience that enriches the user experience. Our goal is to deliver HMI products which create a seamless workflow experience for the user to seamlessly access information while improving patient and staff safety through industry-leading infection control methods,” concluded Ballew.