Supporting common ground across multiple operator perspectives - Creating collaborative solutions for distributed processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED)

Abstract

This paper describes how a Cognitive Systems Engineering approach was used to design a collaborative work system for the emerging distributed Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) enterprise. Working closely with domain practitioners and based on previously identified capability gaps, we designed a prototype system to address key cognitive and collaborative functions not supported in existing chat tools in use by the community. We then extended standard chat functionality with an Asynchronous, Multi-dimensional Chat Client to develop a set of interactive design seeds. The initial design seeds were based on providing: (1) real-time, on-topic contextual cues about collaborators' activities with regard to a shared intelligence picture; (2) automated information gathering assistance; and (3) enhanced functionality using easily developed, modular, external software extensions. Initial results based on feedback from operators are then discussed to shape future design iterations. We conclude that future PED tools based on these enhanced functionalities have significant potential to help personnel easily and effectively access, manage, and monitor multiple shared frames of reference with their analytical, consumer, and collector counterparts, establishing a common ground that is critical for emerging distributed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) workflows.