Usability Evaluation of Information Technology in Disaster and Emergency Management

General

Art der Publikation: Conference Paper

Veröffentlicht auf / in: Information Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction First IFIP TC 5 DCITDRR International Conference, ITDRR 2016, Sofia, Bulgaria, November 16–18, 2016, Revised Selected Papers

Jahr: 2017

Seiten: 46-60

Verlag (Publisher): Springer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68486-4_5

ISBN: 978-3-319-68485-7

Authors

Tilo Mentler

Henrik Berndt

Daniel Wessel

Michael Herczeg

Abstract

Apart from technical reliability, usability is one of the major criteria for safe and efficient usage of interactive information technology in disaster and emergency management. However, in this setting, usability evaluation is difficult due to the heterogeneity and unpredictability of operation conditions, as well as the difficult, usually mobile, context. However, there are ways to conduct usability evaluations in disaster and emergency settings. Thus, in this paper, advantages and disadvantages of empirical and analytical usability evaluation methods for interactive systems in disaster and emergency management are discussed. The importance of formative evaluation measures within an iterative human-centered design process is emphasized. It is illustrated by two case studies dealing with paramedics' and emergency physicians' usage of mobile and wearable devices in mass casualty incidents.