News & Media
Human-Centered Design Helps Organizations Tailor Complex Solutions for Diverse Audiences
Tasks ranging from routine operations to cognitively taxing actions like command decision making are recognized as becoming increasingly difficult. For example, it is a near universal complaint that performing email “triage” is the electronic equivalent to taking out the trash, even with spam filters and clutter bins, and that’s just a simple task. Imagine the decision making complexity involved when a Submarine Operator receives all kinds of information from various sources and must distinguish between friend and foe, or when an investor fields various streams of information about a company’s prospects and must decide between buy and sell.
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a methodology that ensures that system design initially considers the cognitive and physical requirements and capabilities of the targeted end user(s). The approach is innovative in that it strives to incorporate lived experiences, as well as in the objective “clean-slate” design approach. HCD may be successfully applied to wide-ranging fields and applications including the social sciences, medicine, and national defense – any field where the human characteristics of a user group factor into operations and decision making. As a process that starts with the people you are designing for – your intended audience – and ends with specifically tailored design solutions that meet particular needs, HCD addresses the issues of complex information presentation in substantive, empathetic ways.
Combining a broad range of knowledge and expertise in HCD with practical experience allows a system designer to provide value to any major system design or modernization. HCD addresses the full range of cognitive and physical design considerations from team and individual decision making to the optimization of spatial arrangements to support team interaction, system operation and sustainability. In the defense systems context, extensive human factors experience becomes a critical element in HCD to address issues ranging from the design of efficient operating spaces to the introduction of mixed-gender crews in submarines. The human issues associated with major technology insertions including manpower, personnel and training must also be considered.
Rite-Solutions’ research and experience has convinced us – and our customers – of the value of HCD. We develop and successfully apply a mission-based, cognitive design methodology that incorporates task analysis, knowledge engineering of subject matter experts, technology assessment, automation and task allocation, and optimization of arrangements of combat spaces and team layouts. This methodology was used for the Command Decision Support System of the Combat System of the Future, a visionary Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project that included significant Artificial Intelligence in a decision support framework. The same design methodology applied to the Marine Mammal Mitigation Tool – a Navy Phase II SBIR, and the next generation integrated communication system (ICS-Next) – another Navy Phase II SBIR. Each of these very different research and development efforts established the value of HCD as all feedback indicated high marks for very innovative user experiences.
The value of HCD continues to be recognized by our customers as the trend toward More-Data-Faster continues apace with the equally dynamic trend toward user diversity. HCD has played a key role in our generation of recommendations for, and analyses of, proposed technology insertions as well as in our development of tools for maintenance scheduling, work load analysis and optimization for ship and shore-based installations, including the up-front validation of class maintenance plans. In the defense world, the unchecked infusion of data will be an accelerating challenge with the introduction and profusion of major information gathering platforms like unmanned vehicles and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Human-Centered Design, in particular in Decision Support Systems and as a driver in Human Systems Integration (HSI), will indeed be a central design approach for any innovative solution. Both Decision Support and HSI will be explored in future posts.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Natasha R. Chalk)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?
Rite-Solutions has developed an Agile MBSE strategy, described in a series of whitepapers, presentations, and models, based on three critical items:
- Modeling techniques, standards, processes, guiding principles, and best practices required to ensure a clear, efficient, and trouble-free transition from DBSE to Agile MBSE.
- Interface options for Cameo Systems Modeler and Jira. These interface options are also applicable to other MBSE tools (i.e. Enterprise Architect and Rational Rhapsody).
- Clear value proposition to garner stakeholder support and make a smooth transition from DBSE to Agile MBSE.
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.