The use of computing technology in a challenging environment: an investigation in the emergency services in Northern Ireland

Wilson, Patricia (2006). The use of computing technology in a challenging environment: an investigation in the emergency services in Northern Ireland. Student dissertation for The Open University module M801 MSc in Software Development Research Dissertation.

Please note that this student dissertation is made available in the format that it was submitted for examination, thus the author has not been able to correct errors and/or departures from academic standards in areas such as referencing.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0001603d

Abstract

There is a large number of computing technologies found in the office and used in every day routines but the transition to the challenging domain of emergency services, is less apparent. The aim of this study is to address the lack of computing technology at the front line operation of emergency services that could save lives and improve the safety and efficiency of the emergency crews. The study concentrated on the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). It was the interesting Open University course, User Interface and Design Evaluation (M873), which fostered my interest in computing outside a desktop and led to this choice of topic for the dissertation. There was also a family interest in selecting the emergency service aspect. Emergency crew and IT staff were interviewed to understand front line operations. Document studies of records, training artefacts and logs provided a natural source for result validation. All equipment employing computing technology was classified according to the task perform. The classification facilitated the identification of gaps in technology usage across the emergency organizations. A literature survey of suitable technology within this challenging context to fill the gaps was performed. The results were tested using a focus group. Analysis used techniques such as task scenarios, sequence diagrams and mind maps. A classification of the tasks is presented with six categories including tracking and locating, mobile data, information collection, sensor application, security and communication. Ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on saving lives and eight technologies with minor impacts. Ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on improving the efficiency of emergency services and eight technologies with minor impacts. The results shall serve as input to prototypes for equipment in this hostile environment.