By jointly encountering new human-machine interactions at the design stage, I urge that this would bridge a critical research translation gap between medicine and computer science, and it is our response to this opportunity, that I, with my fellow collaborators, look to share with the broad readership of Nature Research Communities.

During the pandemic period, we took a pragmatic and empathetic research approach to new human-computer interactions. As part of this, we listened to healthcare staff as they recounted experiences of rapid technology adoption practices at a specialist paediatric centre in London, coupled with the perceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) amongst children and young people. In this publication, we report on a resulting conceptual framework and checklist informed by these perspectives. 

What makes our conceptual framework different?

This conceptual framework is intended to be used for the early exploration of emerging technologies in healthcare. When compared to national frameworks for technology adoption, this is tailored to first experiences with new technologies at the pre-clinical trial stage in a way that actively involves healthcare staff and patients.  We believe this framework will encourage interdisciplinary collaboration on-site in hospitals, in this case by bridging a gap between technologists and those with tacit knowledge of healthcare.

 Creating a new dialogue

Firsthand experiences recounted through the pandemic period inform the concepts in this framework. Whilst there is much coverage of the accelerated adoption of technologies during this period, this does not capture lessons learned. We asked, how can those lessons be applied to other emerging technology implementations? Therefore, we look to captivate a wider audience in medicine with this application of user experience (UX) to technology adoption.

 Reaching further

We acknowledge the challenge of collaborating across geographical borders, and we endeavour to do this in a way that will leave no one behind. Therefore, by disseminating our findings, we also look to learn from a wider, inclusive, and global network of peers. We believe that this contribution will open a new dialogue and spur those collaborations in earnest.