Initiating communication and conveying critical information to the human operator is a key problem in human-automation collaboration. This problem is particularly pronounced in time-constrained safety critical domains such as in Air Traffic Management. A visual representation should aid operators understanding why the system initiates the communication, when the operator must act, and the consequences of not responding to the cue. Data glyphs can be used to present multidimensional data, including temporal data in a compact format to facilitate this type of communication. In this paper, we propose a glyph design for communication initialization for highly automated systems in Air Traffic Management, Vessel Traffic Service, and Train Traffic Management. The design was assessed by experts in these domains in three workshop sessions. The results showed that the number of glyphs to be presented simultaneously and the type of situation were domain-specific glyph design aspects that need to be adjusted for each work domain. The results also showed that the core of the glyph design could be reused between domains, and that the operators could successfully interpret the temporal data representations. We discuss similarities and differences in the applicability of the glyph design between the different domains, and finally, we provide some suggestions for future work based on the results from this study.

Traffic management in aviation, shipping, and rail transport shows similarities and dissimilarities in the work process. For example, they share the temporal aspect, but different levels of urgency in the control work set different requirements on monitoring, decisions, and actions. However, few studies have been presented that model and compare the different domains in terms of temporal decision-making. The Joint Control Framework (JCF) is an approach to analyse and temporally model operators’ control processes from a cognitive systems engineering perspective. In this study, we have used JCF to map, and compare, cognitive joints, such as perceptions, decisions, and actions, in temporally challenging control situations in air traffic control, maritime vessel traffic service, and train traffic management. Data was collected collaboratively with traffic operators, focusing on (1) identifying challenging traffic situations and (2) jointly modelling the temporal decision-making patterns of these situations using simplified JCF. Post-analysis was done by breaking down the results into different processes and comparing domains to ascertain how operators maintain control. An intermediate level of activity—between general monitoring and work with specific vehicles—was identified: processes-in-focus. A shared problem arises in the shift between general monitoring and the processes-in-focus. All processes-in-focus comprise cognitive joint cycles of perceptions, decisions, and actions. However, depending on the framing of processes-in-focus, the patterns of joints, such as temporal extension and complexity, differ. In the remainder of the article, implications for the interaction design, in particular the potential for human–AI/automation teaming with higher levels of automation and cognitive autonomy, are discussed.

In industrial applications where the physical parameters are highly interconnected, keeping the process flow steady is a major concern for the operators. This is caused by the sensitivity of system to the process dynamics. As a result, a slight adjustment to a control parameter can significantly affect the efficiency of the system and thus impact the financial gain. Paper pulp production is an example of such a process, where operators continuously investigate the potential of changes in the process and predict the consequences of an adjustment before making a decision. Process parameter adjustments prescribed by simulated control models cannot be fully trusted as the external disturbances and the process inherent variabilities cannot be fully incorporated into the simulations. Therefore, to assess the viability of a strategy, operators often compare the situation with the historical records and trends during which the processes in the plant ran steadily. While previous research has mostly focused on developing advanced control models to simulate complex pulp production process, this work aims to support operators analytical reasoning by provision of effective data visualization. The contributions of our design study include a domain problem characterization and a linked-view visual encoding design, which aims to enhance operator's mental models independent of particular users or scenarios. Finally, by reflecting on the advantages of our choice of task abstraction technique, inherited from the ecological interface design framework [5], we reason for the generalizability of our approach to similar industrial applications.

The SESAR-funded Modern ATM via Human / Automation Learning Optimisation (MAHALO) project recently completed two years of technical work exploring the human performance impacts of AI and Machine Learning (ML), as applied to enroute ATC conflict detection and resolution (CD&R). It first developed a hybrid ML CD&R capability, along with a realtime simulation platform and experimental User Interface. After a series of development trials, the project culminated in a pair of field studies (i.e., human-in-the-loop trials) across two EU countries, with a total of 35 operational air traffic controllers. In each of these two field studies, controller behaviour was first captured in a pre-test phase, and used to train the ML system. Subsequent main experiment trials then experimentally manipulated within controllers both Conformance (as either a personalised-, group average-, or optimized model) and Transparency (as ether a baseline vector depiction, an enhanced graphical diagram, or a diagramplus-text presentation). The proposed paper presents guidelines on the design and implementation of ML systems in Air Traffic Control, derived from the results and lesson learned from the Simulations, as well as the qualitative feedback received from the controllers themselves.

We present a novel counterfactual-based dashboard for explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) in process industries, aimed at enhancing the understanding and adoption of machine learning (ML) models by providing transparency, explainability, and performance evaluation. Our dashboard comprises two modules: a statistical analysis module for data visualization and model performance assessment, and an XAI module for exploring counterfactual explanations at varying levels of abstraction. Through a case study of an industrial batch process, we demonstrate the dashboard's applicability and potential to increase trust in ML models among stakeholders, paving the way for confident deployment in process industries.

Given the portability and minimal intrusiveness of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), there is potential for it to be used in an ecological setting, as compared to classical neuroimaging methods. In this paper, NIRS was used to assess the cognitive processes of operators performing complex, safety-critical Air Traffic Control (ATC) tasks. The haemodynamic response in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) was obtained from an event-based analysis of the NIRS recordings. Despite the relative complexity of the experimental scenario, grand-averaged results from the analysis showed an evident Haemodynamic Response Function (HRF) in the right PFC, specifically for events in which the operator provided instructions to arriving aircraft (e.g., clear-to-land or go-around). The HRF peak was observed before the event, suggesting that maximum cognitive processing of the operator occurred before instructions were actually given. Overall, the study supports the suitability of NIRS as a tool for assessing the cognitive processes of operators in ecological settings, demonstrating the potential validity of NIRS-based measurements for BCI systems in safety-critical operations.

Denna rapport presenterar ett nytt kunskapsläge om framtidens skadeplats utifrån de resultat som kommit från forskningsprogrammet Effektiva räddningsinsatser på Framtidens Skadeplats 2015–2020. Rapporten är en omarbetad version baserad på rapporten Att hantera framtidens skadeplatser: scenarier och utgångspunkter för kunskapsutveckling runt räddningsinsatser och skadeplatsarbete som gavs ut av Centrum för forskning inom respons- och räddningssystem (CARER) 2016. I den rapporten presenterades ett underlag för de kommande aktiviteterna som var planerade att genomföras inom forskningsprogrammet. Rapporten beskrev också åtta olika skadeplatsscenarier som togs fram i linje med Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskaps (MSB:s) dåvarande framtidsanalyser samt en analys av då tillgänglig litteratur om olyckor och katastrofer. Dessa scenarier beskrev på ett strukturerat och detaljerat sätt möjliga framtida skadeplatser av särskilt intresse ur ett praktiker- och forskningsperspektiv. 

I denna rapport har dessa åtta scenarier arbetats om och uppdaterats utifrån rådande läge i samhället i dag. De har också utökats med en beskrivning av en möjlig respons så som den kan se ut i framtiden inom tidsramen 10 till 15 år. Denna rapport innehåller också en övergripande beskrivning av de resultat som framkommit från de sex arbetspaketen (AP) i programmet. Inom AP2 redovisas teman om a) frivilliga och civila insatspersoner, b) semi-professionella som första insatsaktörer, c) genus, etnicitet och utsatthet, samt d) efterforskning av försvunna personer. AP3 redovisar teman om a) effektiv utlarmning av frivilliga och semiprofessionella resurser, b) prediktering, c) skadeplatslogistik, samt d) alarmering och effektivare räddningstjänst. AP4 går igenom a) IT-plattformen OP-SENS och b) lägesbilder, medan AP5 redovisar teman om a) utvärdering av ny teknik, b) utvärdering av utbildning och övning, samt c) utvärdering av ny metodik. Slutligen har AP6 redovisat teman om a) nya metoders och resurser effekt på systemnivå, samt b) värdering av frivilliga och semiprofessionella. Dessa forskningsresultat återkommer i scenarierna för att exemplifiera hur de kan omsättas i praktiskt skadeplatsarbete innan, under och efter en insats.

Artificial intelligence is considered a key enabler for realizing a more efficient future air traffic management system. As the automation designed to support us grows more sophisticated and complex, our understanding of it tends to suffer. Recent research has addressed this issue in two ways: either through increased automation transparency or increased personalization. This paper overviews recent work in these two areas of strategic conformance (i.e., personalization) and automation transparency (e.g., explainable artificial intelligence and machine learning interpretability). We discuss how to achieve and how to balance conformance and transparency in the context of a machine learning system for conflict detection and resolution in air traffic control. In the MAHALO project, we aim to build, and empirically evaluate, a personalized and transparent decision support system by combining supervised and reinforcement learning approaches. We believe that such a system could strive for optimal performance while accommodating individual differences. By knowing the individuals preferences, the system would be able to afford transparency by explaining both why it suggests another solution (that deviates from the individuals), and why this solution is considered to be better.

Intense drone traffic, exceeding human capabilities of manual control, is expected to occur during the last stage of Unified Traffic Management (UTM) and Unmanned Airspace System (UAS) service deployment in cities. In this paper, we discuss how humans and automation could collaborate to manage this airspace. We review theory on options for UTM airspace structure (volumes, points, networks, layers), machine learning, optimization, and human-automation collaboration. Based on simulation and visualization of two cities, we discuss four abilities: to discern traffic patterns, to recognize situations, to predict situational developments, and to function in varying conditions of rule-following habits of airspace users. We then discuss the challenge of collaborating though the use of advanced visual dashboards, for human-in-the loop AI but also for society-in-the-loop. Finally, we discuss how the challenge of humanautomation collaboration can be expected to shift, as the capabilities of the machine increases.

Sepsis is a major health concern with global estimates of 31.5 million cases per year. Case fatality rates are still unacceptably high, and early detection and treatment is vital since it significantly reduces mortality rates for this condition. Appropriately designed automated detection tools have the potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality of sepsis by providing early and accurate identification of patients who are at risk of developing sepsis. In this paper, we present "LiSep LSTM"; a Long Short-Term Memory neural network designed for early identification of septic shock. LSTM networks are typically well-suited for detecting long-term dependencies in time series data. LiSep LSTM was developed using the machine learning framework Keras with a Google TensorFlow back end. The model was trained with data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database which contains vital signs, laboratory data, and journal entries from approximately 59,000 ICU patients. We show that LiSep LSTM can outperform a less complex model, using the same features and targets, with an AUROC 0.8306 (95% confidence interval: 0.8236, 0.8376) and median offsets between prediction and septic shock onset up to 40 hours (interquartile range, 20 to 135 hours). Moreover, we discuss how our classifier performs at specific offsets before septic shock onset, and compare it with five state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for early detection of sepsis.

Sepsis is a major health concern with global estimates of 31.5 million cases per year. Case fatality rates are still unacceptably high, and early detection and treatment is vital since it significantly reduces mortality rates for this condition. Appropriately designed automated detection tools have the potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality of sepsis by providing early and accurate identification of patients who are at risk of developing sepsis. In this paper, we present "LiSep LSTM"; a Long Short-Term Memory neural network designed for early identification of septic shock. LSTM networks are typically well-suited for detecting long-term dependencies in time series data. LiSep LSTM was developed using the machine learning framework Keras with a Google TensorFlow back end. The model was trained with data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database which contains vital signs, laboratory data, and journal entries from approximately 59,000 ICU patients. We show that LiSep LSTM can outperform a less complex model, using the same features and targets, with an AUROC 0.8306 (95% confidence interval: 0.8236, 0.8376) and median offsets between prediction and septic shock onset up to 40 hours (interquartile range, 20 to 135 hours). Moreover, we discuss how our classifier performs at specific offsets before septic shock onset, and compare it with five state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for early detection of sepsis.

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity, in particular stroke. Despite good evidence for the reduction of stroke risk with anticoagulant therapy, there remains significant undertreatment. The main aim of the current study was to investigate whether a clinical decision support tool (CDS) for stroke prevention integrated in the electronic health record could improve adherence to guidelines for stroke prevention in patients with AF.

Methods and findings

We conducted a cluster-randomized trial where all 43 primary care clinics in the county of Östergötland, Sweden (population 444,347), were randomized to be part of the CDS intervention or to serve as controls. The CDS produced an alert for physicians responsible for patients with AF and at increased risk for thromboembolism (according to the CHA2DS2-VASc algorithm) without anticoagulant therapy. The primary endpoint was adherence to guidelines after 1 year. After randomization, there were 22 and 21 primary care clinics in the CDS and control groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in baseline adherence to guidelines regarding anticoagulant therapy between the 2 groups (CDS group 70.3% [5,186/7,370; 95% CI 62.9%–77.7%], control group 70.0% [4,187/6,009; 95% CI 60.4%–79.6%], p = 0.83). After 12 months, analysis with linear regression with adjustment for primary care clinic size and adherence to guidelines at baseline revealed a significant increase in guideline adherence in the CDS (73.0%, 95% CI 64.6%–81.4%) versus the control group (71.2%, 95% CI 60.8%–81.6%, p = 0.013, with a treatment effect estimate of 0.016 [95% CI 0.003–0.028]; number of patients with AF included in the final analysis 8,292 and 6,508 in the CDS and control group, respectively). Over the study period, there was no difference in the incidence of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic thromboembolism in the CDS group versus the control group (49 [95% CI 43–55] per 1,000 patients with AF in the CDS group compared to 47 [95% CI 39–55] per 1,000 patients with AF in the control group, p = 0.64). Regarding safety, the CDS group had a lower incidence of significant bleeding, with events in 12 (95% CI 9–15) per 1,000 patients with AF compared to 16 (95% CI 12–20) per 1,000 patients with AF in the control group (p = 0.04). Limitations of the study design include that the analysis was carried out in a catchment area with a high baseline adherence rate, and issues regarding reproducibility to other regions.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that a CDS can increase guideline adherence for anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF. Even though the observed difference was small, this is the first randomized study to our knowledge indicating beneficial effects with a CDS in patients with AF.

This study is one of a series of studies, researching various aspects that all aim at enhanced simulation based certification aiding for aircraft. An experimental within-group design study was performed with 10 participants ( 5 male, and 5 female). The results showed a significant difference, F(2,16) = 5.11, p = 0.019, in mental workload between an engine failure condition and an normal condition for eye blink frequency. No effect of speed at the engine failure event on mental workload was found.

Kunskapen är begränsad kring hur frekvent olika verktyg nyttjas vid insatser och hur de olika objekten är placerade ur en ergonomisk synvinkel. Syftet med denna studie var att utreda hur frekvent olika verktyg används vid insatser hos räddningstjänsten samt göra en enklare placeringsanalys. Resultatet av studien är tänkt att kunna användas i kommande Basbilskoncept för att kunna placera utrustningen mer ergonomiskt lämpligt, koncentrera verktygsuppsättningen för att skapa förutsättningar för jämställdhetsintegrering och bättre arbetsmiljö inom räddningstjänsten.

Datainsamling gjordes under perioden 2017-03-01 – 2017-11-30, med ett uppehåll under semesterperioden, på fyra räddningsfordon med ett sensorsystem som utvecklades för ändamålet. Studien beskriver angreppssätt för mätningen samt de minst och mest frekvent använda verktygen på fyra förstaräddningsfordon hos Räddningstjänst Syd (Jägersro), Räddningstjänsten i Storgöteborg (Gårda och Mölndal) samt Räddningstjänsten Östra Götaland (Lambohov). Studien beskriver även en kvantitativ- och kvalitativ analys avseende verktygs och objekts vikt och placering utifrån en ergonomisk synvinkel. Rapporten avslutas med rekommendationer kring hur skåp kan utformas i en framtida BAS-bil för att ge bättre förutsättningar för jämställdhetsintegrering och bättre arbetsmiljö inom räddningstjänsten.

In recent years, resilience has become an important goal for cities, particularly in the face of political uncertainty, climate change and increasing urbanisation. Resilience theory has yielded informative lessons and brought new perspective when preparing for, and responding to vulnerabilities cities face today, such as natural hazards and social inequalities. However, critical questions on how to operationalize resilience through political decision making and community engagement are still unanswered, and supporting methods and concrete action plans are needed. In this paper, we offer an overview of the result from three studies conducted as part of an ongoing H2020 research project, Smart Mature Resilience. The three studies inlucde a literature review of definitions and approaches in city resilience, analysis of city resilience strategies and requirements for standardization. Key findings from the studies are presented and implications of their findings for the development of resiliience management guidelines are discussed.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity, in particular stroke. Despite good evidence for the reduction of stroke risk with anticoagulant therapy, there remains a significant undertreatment. The main aim of the current study is to investigate whethera clinical decision support tool for stroke prevention (CDS) integrated in the electronic health record can improve adherence to guidelines for stroke prevention in patients with AF. Methods We will conduct a cluster randomized trial where 43 primary care clinics in the county of Ostergotland, Sweden (population 444,347), will be randomized to be part of the CDS intervention or serve as controls. The CDS will alert responsible physicians of patients with AF and increased risk for thromboembolism according to the CHA(2)DS(2)VASc (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age 74 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke/TIA/thromboembolism, Vascular disease, Age 65-74 years, Sex category (i.e. female sex)) algorithm without anticoagulant therapy. The primary end point will be adherence to guidelines after 1 year. Conclusion The present study will investigate whether a clinical decision support system integrated in an electronic health record can increase adherence to guidelines regarding anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF.

Background Training of medical professionals is important to improve care during mass-causality events. Therefore, it is essential to extend knowledge on how to design valid and usable simulation-based training environments.

Purpose This article investigates how distributed cognition and simulation theory concepts can guide design of simulation-based training environments. We present the design and user evaluation of DigEmergo, a simulator for training and assessing emergency medicine management.

Design approach A prior Distributed Cognition in Teamwork (DiCoT) analysis of the Emergo Train System (ETS) guided the design process. The design objective of DigEmergo was to be useful, usable, retain distributed cognition features of ETS, and strengthen validity and output reliability.

Evaluation Eight expert ETS instructors participated in a formative system evaluation. The Technology Assessment Model (TAM) questionnaire was used to measure usefulness and ease of use. Observations and post-test interviews were conducted to contextualize the measures.

Results The results showed that DigEmergo was perceived as somewhat to quite useful and somewhat easy to use. Overall, expert users considered DigEmergo promising and successful in retaining core ETS features.

Conclusions The study indicates that a design methodology based on distributed cognition and simulation theory can be successfully combined to guide simulator (re)design and strengthen simulator validity.

Health care organizations employ simulation-based team training (SBTT) to improve skill, communication and coordination in a broad range of critical care contexts. Quantitative approaches, such as team performance measurements, are predominantly used to measure SBTTs effectiveness. However, a practical evaluation method that examines how this approach supports cognition and teamwork is missing. We have applied Distributed Cognition for Teamwork (DiCoT), a method for analysing cognition and collaboration aspects of work settings, with the purpose of assessing the methodology's usefulness for evaluating SBTTs. In a case study, we observed and analysed four Emergo Train System® simulation exercises where medical professionals trained emergency response routines. The study suggests that DiCoT is an applicable and learnable tool for determining key distributed cognition attributes of SBTTs that are of importance for the simulation validity of training environments. Moreover, we discuss and exemplify how DiCoT supports design of SBTTs with a focus on transfer and validity characteristics. Practitioner Summary: In this study, we have evaluated a method to assess simulation-based team training environments from a cognitive ergonomics perspective. Using a case study, we analysed Distributed Cognition for Teamwork (DiCoT) by applying it to the Emergo Train System®. We conclude that DiCoT is useful for SBTT evaluation and simulator (re)design.

We examined clinicians' and researchers' experiences from participation in collaborative research on the introduction of Internet and mobile information systems (mHealth systems) in psychotherapeutic routines. The study used grounded theory methodology and was set in a collaboration that aimed to develop and evaluate mHealth support of psychotherapy provided to young people. Soundness of the central objects developed in the design phase (the collaboration contract, the trial protocol, and the system technology) was a necessary foundation for successful collaborative mHealth research; neglect of unanticipated organizational influences during the trial phase was a factor in collaboration failure. The experiences gained in this study can be used in settings where collaborative research on mHealth systems in mental health is planned.

Objective

This abstract presents early findings on a user evaluation of DigEmergo - a digital training simulator prototype for disaster and emergency management. The overall goal of this research project was to design a flexible tool for training and evaluation of emergency response. Therefore we developed DigEmergo; a digital simulator based on Emergo Train System® (ETS; a globally used tabletop simulator) using electronic whiteboards.

Background

Disaster and emergency response requires competent and coordinated teams. However, training such teams efficiently is complicated. Full-scale high-fidelity simulations are both expensive to perform and difficult to evaluate. Thus, there is a need for scalable environments, such as digital simulations, to train medical decision-making and team coordination.

Methods

The DigEmergo prototype ran on an 87-inch multi-touch digital whiteboard and was evaluated using a training scenario and methodology adapted from ETS. Nine participants with prior ETS experience participated in the evaluation, which was led by two instructors. After completed scenarios first impressions were discussed and questionnaires including open-ended questions were completed.

Results

Preliminary results of the qualitative analysis show that the participants were positive towards DigEmergo. Several participants commented on instructor benefits, e.g. ease of setting up exercises and automatic statistics for after action reviews. Common concerns were potential technical issues, that multiple digital whiteboards are needed to avoid clutter, and loss of flexibility as digital whiteboards are less common than regular whiteboards.

Conclusion

Experienced users of ETS identified both advantages and disadvantages with a digital version of ETS. Identified benefits concerned the instructors’ tasks, increased control, and automatic data collection. Perceived disadvantages mainly related to concerns regarding the size of the digital whiteboard and potential technical issues. The participants also identified development potential, e.g. a small-scale tablet version of ETS for frequent training. Future work include analysis of collected evaluation data and additional prototype development.

This paper describes the design process and user evaluation of an outdoor educational mobile augmented reality application. The main goal was to enhance and augment the experience of a visit to a culturally significant place, the childhood home of the children's book author Astrid Lindgren. Visiting sites of historical significance is not limited to the cultural experience itself, but can be seen as an opportunity for learning and exploring a place as it is now and as it has been in past times. By investigating the two design dimensions place and time, our application was conceived as a treasure hunt, where users activate content by moving between places and pointing the mobile device in different directions or at different markers. The application was field tested with mixed groups of children and adults. The evaluation indicates that the prototype did encourage both learning and exploring, which also was the design objective.

The resulting protocol (NCT01205191 at clinicaltrials.gov) for use in frontline clinical practice in which effectiveness, adherence, and the role of the therapists are analyzed, provides evidence for what are truly valuable cell phone-supported CBT treatments and guidance for the broader introduction of CBT in health services.

Smart electricity meters and home displays are being installed in people’s homes with the assumption that households will make the necessary efforts to reduce their electricity consumption. However, present solutions do not sufficiently account for the social implications of design. There is a potential for greater savings if we can better understand how such designs affect behaviour. In this paper, we describe our design of an energy awareness artefact – the Energy AWARE Clock – and discuss it in relation to behavioural processes in the home. A user study is carried out to study the deployment of the prototype in real domestic contexts for three months. Results indicate that the Energy AWARE Clock played a significant role in drawing households’ attention to their electricity use. It became a natural part of the house hold and conceptions of electricity became naturalized into informants’ everyday language.

In order to counteract the digital divide and to enable the society to reach all its citizens with various kinds of e-services, there is a need to develop access methods and terminal technologies suited also for groups with weak access to the Internet, not the least elderly and people needing care in their homes. In this chapter, the authors will describe technologies for using digital pen and paper as data input media for e-services and computing applications, refer a number of applications together with studies and evaluations of their usability, and finally comment upon future prospects for integrating digital pen and paper as an effortless technique for data capture, especially in order to counteract and diminish the digital divide. The use of digital pen and paper technologies is exemplified with applications demonstrating its appropriateness in home care for elderly, for free-form recording of data on paper such as maps, and as a remote control for a TV set or other electronic appliances with rich functionality in the home.

I april 2010 gav regeringen i uppdrag till Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap (MSB) att i ett projekt öka säkerheten på landsbygden genom nya former för räddning och respons. Inom ramen för ovanstående uppdrag, vilket benämns ”Samhällsviktig samverkan i landsbygd” har CARER – Centrum för respons- och räddningssystem – vid Linköpings universitet fått i uppdrag av MSB att inventera vilka behov och resurser för säkerhet och trygghet som existerar på lands- och glesbygd, samt undersöka vilka andra projekt och initiativ som föregått detta, nationellt och internationellt. CARERs projekt, som görs inom ramen för regeringsuppdraget, benämns Trygghetshöjande åtgärder för landsbygden (TÅLA).

TÅLA har genomförts som fyra sammanhängande delstudier där de två första delstudierna använder kvalitativ metodik, främst intervjuer, och syftar till att skapa en förståelse för den upplevda tryggheten på lands- och glesbygden, samt utröna vad den består i och hur den kan stärkas. Delstudie 3 syftar till att kvantitativt uttrycka behov och resurser för säkerhet och trygghet på landsoch glesbygd genom ett urval av indikatorer. Delstudie 4 syftar till att ge en överblick över tidigare forskning och utveckling på området.

Några generella slutsatser som kan dras från TÅLA-projektets olika delstudier är att det finns en god medvetenhet hos boende i land- och glesbygd för att det kan ta tid innan hjälp kan fås ifrån de traditionella räddningssystemen (som till exempel polis eller räddningstjänst), ett faktum som också kan bekräftas numerärt. Vissa indikatorer tyder dessutom på att boende på lands- och glesbygden är mer drabbade av olyckor än boende i tätort, vilket ger ett ökat behov av de aktuella resurserna. Detta har lett till att nya typer av lösningar har utvecklats, oftast av de boende, för att bistå vid olyckor, många baserade på självhjälp och frivillighet.

Tydligt är också att trygghet omfattar mer än bara blåljusverksamheter och stöd från det allmänna. Här inkluderas också behov som el, vatten och möjligheten att handla mat. En stor del av den upplevda tryggheten hos befolkningen kommer från det sociala nätverk som finns i respektive by. Möjligheter till kommunikation är centralt och det är när individen är ensam utan möjlighet till kontakt med omvärlden som den största otryggheten infinner sig.

Det framkom under projektet flera exempel på samverkan och de som medverkar framhåller vikten av att känna varandra innan insatsen, för att bästa möjliga resultat ska uppnås. Såväl de båda kvalitativa studierna som kunskapsöversikten pekar på att en trolig väg till framgång för en ökad säkerhet och trygghet på landsbygden bygger på att de lokala resurserna och strukturerna nyttjas i samverkan med de traditionella räddningsresurserna. Detta innebär att det bör vara möjligt att stärka dels de boendes möjligheter att hjälpa sig själva och att hjälpa varandra, men också att nyttja organisationer som idag inte tillhör blåljusmyndigheterna för att i samverkan med räddningstjänsten, sjukvården och polisen kunna bistå vid olyckor, akuta sjukdomsförlopp och andra relevanta händelser. Viktigt att beakta i detta sammanhang är då att använda de befintliga strukturer som existerar bland såväl boende som olika organisationer, för att på bästa sätt kunna dra nytta av den lokala kunskap, de resurser och det engagemang som existerar.

Pervasive gaming has the potential of transforming the home into a persuasive environment in which the user can learn about appliances and their electricity consumption. Power Explorer is a mobile game with a special sensing approach that provides real-time electricity measurements and feedback when the user switches on and off devices in the home. The game was developed based on persuasive principles to provide an engaging means to learn about energy with positive and negative feedback and social feedback from peers on real energy actions in the home. We present the design and rationale of this game and discuss how pervasive games can be viewed from a persuasive and learning point of view. © 2009 Authors and Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA).

New interfaces to the energy system can facilitate changes of habits and provide means to control the household’s use of energy. In this paper, we look at energy use and such interfaces in the home from a socio-technical perspective. We describe how interviews and user observations can be used in combination with the theory of domestication to inform and inspire the design of interfaces to the energy system. As a result of our approach, we present the Energy AWARE Clock, an example of a new type of electricity meter that challenges the norm of how the electricity system is typically represented in the home. The Energy AWARE Clock makes use of a clock metaphor to vi sualise electricity-use in relation to time in everyday life. Energy-awareness products always challenge domestic social patterns and it is important to consider these aspects in the design process to find successful solutions for the future.

Electricity consumption has been rising significantly in the western world the last decades and this affect the environment negatively. Efficient use and more energy conservative usage patterns could be ways to approach this problem. However, electricity has for a long time actively been hidden away and it is rarely thought of unless it ceases to exist. From the perspective of critical design, we have been working to find methods to visualise electricity and electricity consumption in everyday life to promote environmentally positive behavioural change. In this paper, we are looking at how aspects of lifestyles can be used in design as central driving forces that could lead to changed behaviour. Attempts to promote behavioural changes related to energy consumption might be successfully carried out when people are offered desirable alternatives that are engaging and that do not impose a perceived extra burden in their everyday life. This argument is exemplified through two design concepts, the AWARE Laundry Lamp and the Energy Plant, which are examples on how to increase people’s energy awareness and offer them means for reducing their energy consumption in the home. Both prototypes are inspired by current trends in lifestyle as well as actual observed user behaviour.

The clinician workstation and electronic medial record software (EMR) have been criticised on several accounts. The terminal with its single keyboard, mouse and small display is developed solely for one person work and this setup makes it impractical for multiple data input and for face-to-face collaboration which is so common in clinical environments.

In the supply of mental health services to communities, data and information are managed not only by clinical organizations, but also by welfare state agencies and charities. The aim of this study is to use methods of analysis from actor network theory to identify organizational interventions necessary for the development of an information infrastructure for inter-organizational mental health services. Data was collected in a project aimed at developing an information system that supports inter-organizational psychiatric rehabilitation in a Swedish municipality. Three organizational interventions were identified: an integrated service policy defined by the national government, a common legal framework allowing sharing of high-level client data, and commissioned support for local inter-agency workspaces. It is concluded that organizational interventions must be regarded when configuring an information infrastructure for mental health services. Organizational interventions should also routinely be addressed in systems design methods to be used in inter-organizational settings.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychological disorders is becoming increasingly popular on the Internet. However when using this workstation approach, components such as training and learning relaxation skills, problem solving, exposure exercises, and sleep management guidance must be done in the domestic environment. This paper describes design concepts for providing spatially explicit CBT with mobile phones. We reviewed and analyzed a set of treatment manuals to distinguish elements of CBT that can be improved and supported using mobile phone applications. The key advantage of mobile computing support in CBT is that multimedia can be applied to record, scale, and label anxiety-provoking situations where the need arises, which helps the CBT clients formulate and convey their thoughts and feelings to relatives and friends, as well as to therapists at subsequent treatment sessions.

Objectives: Co-located teams often use material objects to communicate messages in collaboration. Modern desktop computing systems with abstract graphical user interface (GUIs) fail to support this material dimension of inter-personal communication. The aim of this study is to investigate how tangible user interfaces can be used in computer systems to better support collaborative routines among co-located clinical teams. Methods: The semiotics of physical objects used in team collaboration was analyzed from data collected during 1 month of observations at an emergency room. The resulting set of communication patterns was used as a framework when designing an experimental system. Following the principles of augmented reality, physical objects were mapped into a physical user interface with the goal of maintaining the symbolic value of those objects. Results: NOSTOS is an experimental ubiquitous computing environment that takes advantage of interaction devices integrated into the traditional clinical environment, including digital pens, walk-up displays, and a digital desk. The design uses familiar workplace tools to function as user interfaces to the computer in order to exploit established cognitive and collaborative routines. Conclusion: Paper-based tangible user interfaces and digital desks are promising technologies for co-located clinical teams. A key issue that needs to be solved before employing such solutions in practice is associated with limited feedback from the passive paper interfaces. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  Persuasive technologies can be useful to modify behaviors related to energy usage. In this paper, we present the PowerHouse a computer game designed to influence behaviors associated with energy use and promote an energy-aware lifestyle among teenagers. This prototype game aims to influence a set of target activities in the home using several persuasive techniques. Employing the format of a reality TV show (docu soap), the game informs implicitly and explicitly about various energy-efficient actions. We discuss our overall game design and its advantages and disadvantages in relation to the methods we have employed in the game.

Heating is a significant expenditure of many households today but the actual power consumption of the heating devices are seldom recognized. To help people understand and reflect upon their domestic energy consumption, we have designed an electrical radiator that emits heat entirely from light bulbs. This appliance responds to temperature changes in the room via sensors. The idea was to combine the product semantics of lamps and radiators and direct focus on the latter neglected product category. We argue that by re-designing domestic appliances adding means to visualize energy consumption in engaging and interesting ways it is possible to make energy utilization less abstract and easier to comprehend.

Objectives: Ubiquitous computing with multiple interaction devices requires new interface models that support user-specific modifications to applications and facilitate the fast development of active workspaces.

Methods: We have developed NOSTOS, a computer-augmented work environment for clinical personnel to explore new user interface paradigms for ubiquitous computing. NOSTOS uses several devices such as digital pens, an active desk, and walk-up displays that allow the system to track documents and activities in the workplace.

Results: We present the distributed user interface (DUI) model that allows standalone applications to distribute their user interface components to several devices dynamically at run-time. This mechanism permit clinicians to develop their own user interfaces and forms to clinical information systems to match their specific needs. We discuss the underlying technical concepts of DUIs and show how service discovery, component distribution, events and layout management are dealt with in the NOSTOS system.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that DUIs - and similar network-based user interfaces - will be a prerequisite of future mobile user interfaces and essential to develop clinical multi-device environments. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The television (TV) is one of the most common entertainment devices in homes. Searching and finding TV programs is a common task and using TV guides is one way of performing this. This paper presents three studies that are focused on examining audiences’ TV habits and TV guide usage, evaluating a new concept based on linking paper and pen with TV technology, and studying the audiences’ attitudes toward and anticipated interest in the future guide. The results of our first study emphasize the value of using paper based TV guides and also identify the deficiencies. We also found indications that the advantages and disadvantages of paper-based TV guides are related to the physical properties of paper. Thus, we suggest a solution that uses digital pen and paper technology to offer a new interaction method for TV. A research system “Paper Remote”, is developed and used in the two subsequent studies. Viewers tick designated areas on the paper-based guide to perform actions such as channel switching. However, this solution is not a substitute for the remote control device. We argue that these user studies on linking digital paper to the TV for everyday information navigation illuminate the possibilities of providing innovative solutions also for home information systems also.

Despite the introduction of computers in most work environments, the anticipated paperless workplace has not yet emerged. Research has documented that material objects are essential in the organization of thought and that they support everyday collaborative processes performed by staff members. However, modern desktop computing systems with abstract graphical user interfaces fail to support the tangible dimension. This work presents a novel approach to clinical computing that goes beyond the traditional user-interface paradigm and relieves clinicians of the burden of the mouse and keyboard.

The activities of people working in an emergency room were examined empirically to ascertain how clinicians use real paper objects. The results showed that the professionals arranged their workplaces and created material structures that increased cognitive and collaborative performance. Essential factors in these strategies were the availability of physical tools such as paper-based patient records and forms that could be spatially positioned to constitute reminders and direct the attention of the team, and to form shared displays of the work situation.

NOSTOS is an experimental ubiquitous computing environment for co-located healthcare teams. In this system, several interaction devices, including paper-based interfaces, digital pens, walk-up displays, and a digital desk, form a workspace that seamlessly blends virtual and physical objects. The objective of the design was to enhance familiar workplace tools to function as user interfaces to the computer in order to retain established cognitive and collaborative routines.

A study was also conducted to compare the tangible interaction model for clinical computing with a traditional computer-based patient record system with a graphical user interface. The analysis suggests that, in ordinary clinical environments, cognitive and collaborative strategies are better supported by the tangible augmented paper approach and a digital desk than the traditional desktop computing method with its graphical user interfaces. In conclusion, the present findings indicate that tangible paper-based user interfaces and basic augmented environments will prove to be successful in future clinical workplaces.

Ubiquitous computing environments can support clinical administrative routines in new ways. The aim of such computing approaches is to enhance routine physical work, thus it is important to identify specific design requirements. We studied healthcare professionals in an emergency room and developed the computer-augmented environment NOSTOS to support teamwork in that setting. NOSTOS uses digital pens and paper-based media as the primary input interface for data capture and as a means of controlling the system. NOSTOS also includes a digital desk, walk-up displays, and sensor technology that allow the system to track documents and activities in the workplace. We propose a set of requirements and discuss the value of tangible user interfaces for healthcare personnel. Our results suggest that the key requirements are flexibility in terms of system usage and seamless integration between digital and physical components. We also discuss how ubiquitous computing approaches like NOSTOS can be beneficial in the medical workplace.

Objectives: As a preliminary for the design of Computer- Based Patient Records, the aim of this paper is to build an understanding of the roles physical artifacts like paper-based patient records play in support-ing cognition and collaboration in the healthcare settings. Method: A small ethnographically-informed study was conducted in the emergency room at a 250-bed hospital in Sweden from the perspective of Distributed Cognition. Results: To track work-in-progress, clinicians placed patient records on a desk to form a shared public display that represented the current problem state for the health-care team. The results of the study suggest that the patient records and other physical artifacts are used by clinicians in different ways to form cognitive tools that offload memory tasks and support joint attention and collaboration. Conclusion: To design Computer-Based Patient Records that more appropriately support cognition and teamwork, it is important to investigate how clinicians make use of the paper-based patient records. Practitioners take advantage of existing tools frequently to deal with cognitively demanding tasks and collaboration issues.

In this paper, we present a new approach to clinical workplace computerization that departs from the window–based user interface paradigm. NOSTOS is an experimental computer–augmented work environment designed to support data capture and teamwork in an emergency room. NOSTOS combines multiple technologies, such as digital pens, walk–up displays, headsets, a smart desk, and sensors to enhance an existing paper–based practice with computer power. The physical interfaces allow clinicians to retain mobile paper–based collaborative routines and still benefit from computer technology. The requirements for the system were elicited from situated workplace studies. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of augmenting a paper–based clinical work environment.

LINDA is a tool designed to support inter-organizational collaboration in small health-service teams. We approached the design of LINDA by examining how clinicians worked with documents, markers, and other physical objects in an emergency room. We found that spatial arrangements of patient folders on a desk supported workplace cognition and collaboration in several ways. In the design of LINDA, we tried to capture some of the supporting cognitive properties of the physical collaborative system. For example, virtual case files can be arranged spatially on a desktop, sticker-notes can be glued onto different parts of the system, and annotations can be made on forms. We discuss how we approached the problem of designing a system that allows users to form their own flexible coordination mechanisms to support cognition and collaboration.

This paper presents LINDA, a prototype system designed to support virtual rehabilitation teams. LINDA enables professionals from different welfare-state agencies to collaborate in case management. Our approach to supporting teamwork involves the sharing of minimal case sets across organizational borders needed to provide a shared situation assessment among team members. The system provides a shared workspace for the team; a lightweight client-database, visualization of case histories and plans, and means to communicate effectively in the team using yellow sticker-notes. We present LINDA and discuss how we approached the problem to design groupware to support work under changing and uncertain conditions.