Working with the scanner development team at Xerox I designed a TWAIN driver user-interface for the industry's highest quality/speed combination image scanner. The scanner runs at up to 65 pages per minute while returning 600 dpi scans back to a scanning application. The goal of the software is to provide this breakthrough performance to a makeready operator who, with little training, could pick up and use the system to scan hundreds of documents per day.

The development team chose the Windows NT platform and Visual C++ to create the TWAIN driver (TWAIN is an industry standard image capture API). The software went through countless design iterations to find the right balance of functionality at a basic level, and more advanced controls for skilled users. This design yielded ease of use innovations that produced 9 patent applications currently on file with the US Patent office for ideas ranging from how to provide task specific help, to how to preview both sides of a document when scanning 2 sided originals.

Usability testing was a particular challenge because the product hardware was being developed at the same time as the product software.  Testing prototype hardware with prototype software did provide opportunities however, to drive the design of both platforms so that they work harmoniously to complete scanning tasks easily, and comfortably.

Learn more about the DigiPath Scanner by visiting the product page at Xerox.com