User interface for an audiological test system

1. An audiological test system for audiological testing of a patient situated at a test location, comprising:

a first display screen positioned outside a viewing field of the patient when the patient is situated at the test location;

a second display screen positioned within the viewing field of the patient when the patient is situated at the test location;

a computerized device directly connected to each of the first display screen and the second display screen, comprising:

a processor;

and

a memory unit comprising a user interface application executable by the processor, the user interface application comprising:

an input module configured to receive an input from an operator; and

a display management module configured to control the display of information of the audiological test on the first display screen and the second display screen based on the input from the input module;

a first switch located at the first display screen and adapted for control of the first and second display screens in such a way that predetermined information relating to operation of the audiological test system is displayed on the first display screen and not displayed on the second display screen upon activation of the first switch, and

a second switch located at the second display screen and adapted for control of the first and second display screens in such a way that the predetermined information relating to operation of the audiological test system is displayed on the second display screen and not displayed on the first display screen upon activation of the second switch;

wherein the input module is configured to receive an input from the operator via a user interface connected to the computerized device.

2. The audiological test system of claim 1 wherein the computerized device further comprises:

a first user interface device configured to provide a first user input; and

a second user interface device configured to provide a second user input.

3. The audiological test system according to claim 2 , wherein the first display screen is a first touch screen and the first touch screen constitutes the first user interface device.

4. The audiological test system according to claim 3 , wherein the first switch is constituted by a specific touch sensitive area of the first touch screen.

5. The audiological test system according to claim 2 , wherein the second display screen is a second touch screen and the second touch screen constitutes the second user interface device.

6. The audiological test system according to claim 5 , wherein the second switch is constituted by a specific touch sensitive area of the second touch screen.

7. The audiological test system according claim 1 , wherein the first switch accommodates an indicator for indication of whether the predetermined information relating to operation of the audiological test system is displayed or not displayed on the second display screen.

8. An audiological test system comprising a user interface, comprising:

a first display screen configured to display information of an audiological test to an operator, the first display screen positioned such that a patient cannot view the information displayed thereon;

a second display screen configured and positioned to display information of the audiological test to the patient;

a first switch configured to control the display of information of the audiological test on the first and second display screens in such a way that predetermined information relating to operation of the audiological test system is displayed on the first display screen and not displayed on the second display screen upon activation of the first switch, the first switch positioned at the first display screen;

a second switch configured to control the display of information of the audiological test on the first and second display screens in such a way that the predetermined information relating to operation of the audiological test system is displayed on the second display screen and not displayed on the first display screen upon activation of the second switch, the second switch positioned at the second display screen; and

a user interface server directly connected to each of the first display screen and the second display screen, the user interface server residing on a central computer having a processor installed with a user interface application and coupled with a memory unit integrated with a central database, the user interface server comprising:

an input module, at the processor, being configured to receive an input from the operator; and

a display management module, at the processor, being configured to control the display of information of the audiological test on the first display screen and the second display screen based on the input from the input module.

9. The user interface system of claim 8 wherein the user interface server facilitates control of the first display screen and the second display screen.

10. The user interface system of claim 8 wherein the first switch and the second switch are each a conventional mechanical switch.

11. The user interface system of claim 10 wherein the first switch and the second switch are an icon displayed on the first display screen and the second display screen respectively.

12. The user interface system of claim 11 wherein the first switch and the second switch can be activated by the positioning of a cursor on top of the icon and clicking on it using a mouse, a trackball, or a touchpad.

13. The user interface system of claim 8 wherein the user interface can simultaneously display different information on the first display screen and the second display screen.

14. The audiological test system of claim 8 further comprising:

a first user interface device configured to provide a first user input to the user interface server; and

a second user interface device configured to provide a second user input to the user interface server.

15. A method for utilizing an audiological test system comprising a user interface for selectively displaying information regarding an audiologic test system to an operator and a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a first display screen to display information of the audiological test to an operator such that the patient cannot view the information displayed thereon;

positioning a second display screen to display information of the audiological test to the patient such that the patient can view the information thereon;

directly connecting each of the first display screen and the second display screen to a computerized device configured to control the display of information on each of the first display screen and the second display screen;

activating a first switch allowing the operator to display information relating to operation of the audiological test system on the first display screen and not to display information relating to operation of the audiological test system on the second display screen; and

activating a second switch by the operator to display information relating to operation of the audiological test system on the second display screen and not to display information relating to operation of the audiological test system on the first display screen.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein different information can be displayed on the first display screen and the second display screen.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first display screen and the second display screen are placed at a distance so they cannot be viewed simultaneously from a test location used for audiological testing of a patient.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the operator need not turn off the second display screen next to the patient to ensure the patient does not receive any visual cues relating to the audiological test.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the first switch and the second switch are an icon displayed on the first display screen and the second display screen respectively.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein:

activation of the first switch comprises receiving a user input from a first user input device selecting the icon on the first display screen; and

activation of the second switch comprises receiving a user input from a second user input device selecting the icon on the second display screen.