My Role:
Lead UX Researcher
Solution:
Our Solution - “A virtual training tool that prepares firefighters to effectively manage electric vehicle fires through immersive simulation.” Or as we like to call it the ‘Flight Simulator’ for Firefighters.
This tool is designed to prepare firefighters through immersive simulations that replicate the complex dynamics of EV fires, emphasizing crucial skills and decision-making processes required during such emergencies.
12 weeks
Background:
AR for Public Safety Training is a collaborative endeavor led by Crisis Technology Innovation Lab in partnership with iMixedReality. This project is focused on researching and recommending AR-based training modules specifically for firefighters, with a particular emphasis on EV fires.
Our Client
Mainly focuses on research and practice on the use of next-generation technologies for first responders. For this project, they were keen on implementing AR to cater training needs of First responders.
Client requirements:
Identify the training needs of first responders.
Ideate overall training system
Develop an example module to understand system capabilities.
Low fidelity user interface design
For this project, our design process was that of IBM's…The LOOP!
Observing
Stage 1- Desk Research
As part of observing AKA understanding our users and the problem space, I started with desk research. Out of all the types of fire accidents, one caught our eye, EV FIRES. Our desk research included watching old YouTube videos for news, reading articles, and reviewing research papers.
Our desk research showed us that there is a serious training gap for firefighters to tackle EV fires and that AR can be a potential technological intervention in the training space. Upon finishing our desk research we identified our users who will be directly and indirectly impacted by our solution.
What do the existing solutions lack?
We also dug a little deeper to understand if the training needs are being met by any competitors. After taking a closer look, the competitors were lacking in the following areas. You can find the detailed Competitor Analysis here.
Solutions specifically designed for the challenges of EV fire incidents
Level of specialization required for EV fire training
Focus on the unique aspects of EV fires and associated hazards
Stage 2: Phenomenological research
Upon deciding. our target users, I designed a phenomenological study, in which we prioritized understanding firefighters' experience with EV fires and vehicle fires in general. As part of the study, I went on a field visit to the Greenwood Fire Department to directly interact with and observe firefighters, their tools, and their practices.
Our secondary research helped us frame the questions for firefighters and understand what to seek out of this field visit. Coming to the field visit, the insights we gained out of the Field visit were highly crucial in our decision-making process, as it strengthened the need for an AR training system.
I love a good field visit!
I got to closely observe and interact with the users we are designing for
Some key questions include:
How do firefighters approach vehicle fires in general?
What is the process they follow for tackling EV fires?
How are they trained for these incidents?
How is EV fire training different?
Using the “5 Whys” while interviewing the firefighters, having a genuine interest in my users, and the curiosity of a kid, helped me learn a lot about our users. Also, taking pictures of anything and everything!!.
Data analysis:
For data analysis, we gathered all the insights from our conceptual inquiry and secondary research. After that, we segregated them into broader categories and identified the problem areas. Remember the 5 Whys I talked about earlier? We used that to identify the problems that need to be solved.
Our refined problem statement is:
How might we provide immersive and specialized training for firefighters to effectively respond to electric vehicle (EV) fire incidents?
Keeping our research at the center, we started to brainstorm about what our solution should be. We used crazy 8's and decided to design
"A virtual training tool that prepares firefighters to effectively manage electric vehicle fires through immersive simulations."
Make
Prototyping the Concept
We developed a prototype that embodies this theme, offering a comprehensive platform that simulates the physical, technical, and strategic aspects of EV firefighting. This prototype forms the foundation for a dynamic training module that will be refined through ongoing testing and feedback.
The firefighter moves through different levels where they can select the car model they want to work with. The levels have different scenarios and simulations with increased difficulty.
Additionally, the user can change the view of the interior of the EV accordingly, and also choose the appropriate equipment required in the scenario. Here's the link to prototype
Future Scope
Assess the impact of certified training on job performance, incident response outcomes, and overall safety in EV-related emergencies.
Collaboration with car manufacturers to get car model maps and plans
Explore the integration of AR with IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
Analyze user interactions, provide personalized feedback and adaptive training paths.
Scrolling done, now it’s time to talk—let’s connect!
Design Thinking to Human Psychology, let's geek out together!
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