Tangible and Wearable User Interfaces for Supporting Collaboration among Emergency Workers

Abstract

Abstract. Ensuring a constant flow of information is essential for offering quick help in different types of disasters. In the following, we report on a workin-progress distributed, collaborative and tangible system for supporting crisis management. On one hand, field operators need devices that collect information-personal notes and sensor data-without interrupting their work. On the other hand, a disaster management system must operate in different scenarios and be available to people with different preferences, backgrounds and roles. Our work addresses these issues by introducing a multi-level collaborative system that manages real-time data flow and analysis for various rescue operators.Keywords: Wearable tangible device, collaborative crisis management. IntroductionHumans, despite technological and scientific advances, are still vulnerable in the face of natural disasters. It is therefore essential to provide effective management and quick aid in such scenarios [8,15]. Providing up-to-date data, ensuring a constant flow of information, organizing and coordinating rescue units and reaching the people in need are the core factors for ensuring disaster management and offering quick help. This paper presents an exploratory design study on tangible user interfaces for improving coordination in crisis management. Designing novel Disaster Management Information Systems (DMIS) poses unique challenges [1,2]. Multiple publications have focused on interaction techniques for crisis management systems, capturing vital aspects in the areas of multitouch [3,17] or gesture interaction [1,4], with a special emphasis on map-based approaches. At the same time, solutions have been devised that aid the cooperation and interaction of disaster managers and unit operators in the settings of a mobile command post connected to mobile devices [18]. Still, while mobile devices like tablets and smart phones would seem ideal, the need for additional information about the environment

Avalanche Beacon Parks

“…This situation might be similar to how other researchers are aiming at training with new wearable technologies where the environmental aspect cannot be adapted, but where the technology is "real" and not simulated (e.g. [9,22]). …”

“…Researchers have also created new systems to better support training, often focusing on collaborative practices. Proposed solutions include tabletop systems [11], wearables [9,22], games [27,40], and virtual environments [28].…”

“…This very likely happens with other technological training grounds, particularly in activities that require a personal digital device while in a group setting (e.g. with wearable devices [9,22]). More specifically, there is relatively little research that looks at how non-experts familiarize themselves with a new mobile device before focusing on communication and coordination.…”

“…The strategies proposed above can be applied in cases where unacquainted people engage in real life exercises to train for a variety of situations. For example, in emergency response, teams of on-site workers or volunteers would benefit from learning from each other as part of a community of practice, even if they are supported by coordinators who are in a remote command center [9]. The ability to work together on site can increase team coordination and situational awareness and hence take away some of the strain on the link between the command center and the disaster scene.…”

Secure and Connected Wearable Intelligence for Content Delivery at a Mass Event: A Case Study

“…The rapidly diversifying ecosystem of wearable devices that reside geographically close to each other-either belonging to one or to several users-opens new opportunities for developing secure connectivity solutions based on physical proximity [53,54]. For example, in the aforementioned scenario, proximity-based networking can be used to form data dissemination channels that are only available at the mass event.…”