ABSTRACT
Rockets are fired. Drones are scrambled. You have the next minute to locate, assess, target, and destroy dozens of incoming projectiles. The difference between an 80% and a 100% success rate is the loss of key infrastructure, equipment, supplies, or even lives. Every second counts. A human-operated air defence system is precisely the type of scenario where user-centred design is the difference between life and death. Cutting decision-making processes from 15 seconds to 3 seconds makes a real, tangible difference to outcomes in the field. Existing design standards and guidelines for such systems are ‘user-centric’ (e.g., ISO 9241). Still, they fail to build a deep understanding of the user’s needs and situation and struggle to create a solution that enables the user to make the best decision, based on the best information, in the shortest time possible. Therefore, Halogen has developed HDMC: Halogen Design Methods for Critical Systems. HDMC draws on the best methods from human-centred design, human-factors theory, and situational awareness theory. Together, when applied to a case such as the Fires Distribution Centre of the NASAMS Air Defence System, used in Ukraine, the methodologies result in better situational awareness, natural and seamless workflows, improved muscle memory and precision, increased concentration over time, reduced time in training, and a smaller margin for operator error. In this chapter, we present our framework methods and tools, along with a worked example of how we applied it to the NASAMS consoles. We follow the design process, from an early-stage exploration to iterative testing and operative use, and present relevant methodologies and techniques along the way.
