Empathy from Afar? Towards Empathy for Future Maritime Designers and Remote Operators

Abstract

Having empathy and being able to empathize refer to the ability to understand, view or feel the experiences and perspectives of others. In a work context, the ability of different actors to empathize with others can have positive effects in the design, organization and operations of complex systems. This article explores the value of empathy within safety-critical work systems and discusses the role of empathy as an entry point for user-centred approaches. We use the maritime domain to illustrate why developing empathic skills and knowledge has relevance and added-value for (1) maritime design and designers, and (2) future remote maritime operations and operators of unmanned vessels. We detail our emerging approaches and methods for developing empathy as a tool to enhance interdisciplinary understanding and knowledge sharing with the overall goal of improving Human Factors utilization in applied work contexts.

Challenges and Emerging Practices in Design of Automation

“…Technology is developed without the engineers having the user in mind -a user with several human limitations. This practice stands in contrast to Mallam et al (2022) notion that empathy is a foundational aspect of promoting successful user-centred approaches in safety critical systems. Several participants underlined the challenge lying in a strong technology focus among those developing these systems.…”

“…Many of the challenges the interviews revealed point towards inclusion of users early in the design process as a useful mean to overcome several challenges in design. Including users early in the design process increases the likelihood that the developed solutions are effective and safe for the intended audience (Mallam et al 2022). The results also point towards several challenges related to structural and organizational factors as well.…”