Students of TU Delft conduct field studies on critical ambulance systems in Argentina

In august 2008, three students from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering have executed a research on field study techniques for HCI critical systems. The students conducted several studies on ambulance systems in the Netherlands and Argentina.
The students have observed the medics, and how they interact with the various on board systems of the ambulance, during any emergency call.

Goal

Namahn has asked the students to apply and evaluate various theoretical models for critical HCI systems (Human-Computer Interaction) in practice in the field of the ambulance system. The various methods focused on:

• Distributed cognition (DC)
• Ethnomethodology (ETHNO)
• Cognitive work analysis (CWA)

Research question

Which theoretical models can be used to apply in a tool for research in practice concerning ambulance systems in situations of emergency calls?

Results

The results have been presented to Namahn in November 2008 evaluating:

• Theories (DC, ETHNO, CWA)
• Tools (checklists, communication forms, memo recorders, …)
• The practical approach (themes specifically important within ambulance research)

For future field studies recommendations for a proper set-up and approach during research in ambulance systems are formulated. The various steps (information collection, gain access to ambulances, .. ) have been rated and assigned values for time consumption, contribution to result and qualitative result.