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Guidance for developing human–computer interfaces for supporting fire emergency response

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Abstract

Despite recent work on information systems (ISs), many first responders in the UK Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) are unable to develop sufficient understanding of the situation to enable them to make good decisions. As a partial requirement of the development of IS for the UK FRSs, a software prototype consisting of a number of human–computer interfaces are developed and subsequently evaluated to explore how to present useful information for firefighters during their response operations. This article exclusively discusses the findings arising from end-user demonstration sessions conducted via participative type of prototype evaluation that is aimed to understand the appropriateness and usefulness of the proposed software prototype supporting fire emergency response (ER). This article contributes to improve the designing of the human–computer interfaces and human–computer interaction for supporting firefighters during fire ER by introducing advice based on the end user evaluation feedback of the proposed software prototype.

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Acknowledgements

The work was financially supported by the Technology Strategy Board in the United Kingdom through the SafetyNET project (TP/3/PIT/6/I/16993). Appreciation also goes to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire FRS Brigades and the UK Fire Protection Association for their support rendered throughout the study in allowing the authors to conduct interviews, field studies and training observations with them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University, PO Box 756, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand

    Raj Prasanna

  2. School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, LE113TU, Leicestershire, UK

    Lili Yang & Malcolm King

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  1. Raj Prasanna
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  2. Lili Yang
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  3. Malcolm King
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Prasanna, R., Yang, L. & King, M. Guidance for developing human–computer interfaces for supporting fire emergency response. Risk Manag 15, 155–179 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1057/rm.2013.3

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