Making user interaction with laboratory equipment more convenient and intuitive should promote experimental work and help researchers to complete their tasks efficiently. The most common form of interaction in current instrumentation is either direct tactile, with buttons and knobs, or interfaced through a computer, using a mouse and keyboard. Scripting is another function typical of smart and automated laboratory equipment, yet users are currently required to learn bespoke programming languages and libraries for individual pieces of equipment. In this paper, we present two open-source, novel and intuitive ways of interacting with and scripting laboratory equipment. We choose the OpenFlexure family of microscopes as our exemplar, due to their open-source nature and smart control system. Firstly, we demonstrate 'OpenFlexure Voice Control' to enable users to control the microscope hands-free. Secondly, we present 'OpenFlexure Blockly' which uses the Blockly Visual Programming Language to enable users to easily create scripts for the microscope, using a drag and drop web interface. We explain the design choices when developing these tools, and discuss more typical use cases and more general applications.

翻译：提升用户与实验室设备交互的便捷性与直观性，有助于推动实验工作并帮助研究人员高效完成任务。当前仪器设备最常见的交互方式要么是通过按钮和旋钮的直接触控，要么是通过鼠标键盘的计算机接口操作。脚本化是智能自动化实验室设备的另一项典型功能，但用户需针对每台设备学习特定的编程语言和库。本文提出两种新颖且直观的开源方式，用于实验室设备的交互与脚本化。我们以OpenFlexure系列显微镜为例——因其开源性及智能控制系统——首先展示"OpenFlexure Voice Control"使用户能免持操控显微镜；其次提出"OpenFlexure Blockly"，其基于Blockly可视化编程语言，通过拖拽式网页界面让用户轻松创建显微镜脚本。我们阐述了开发这些工具时的设计策略，并讨论了典型使用场景及更广泛的应用前景。