Generic functionality in user interfaces for emergency response

Abstract

In this paper we use findings from a number of empirical studies involving different emergency response actors to identify shared or overlapping needs for user interfaces functionality. By analyzing the findings from these studies, we have identified 11 categories of functionality supporting shared needs, including functionality for handling incident information, logging facilities, and functionality for managing human resources and equipment. After presenting our research method, we give an overview of the identified categories of shared functionality. We also describe one of the categories, namely resource management, in some more detail including giving examples of concrete user interface functionality. We have validated the conclusions of our findings through observations and interviews in a training exercise. The validation supported our prediction that the exercise would not reveal major additional categories of functionality, and it also supplemented the earlier findings regarding which actors that need which categories of functionality. We conclude by discussing pros and cons of using generic solutions supporting shared functionality across emergency response actors.