Fin, Whale, Coin and Flatterer: Exploring Tangibles for Air Traffic Control

Abstract

Air traffic control (ATC) is a safety-critical work domain that has a history of applying tangible elements in its workstations. In the past, development was mostly technology-driven, which resulted in usability challenges like handling multiple input and output devices. In this work, we followed a user-centred design approach with air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Starting from the users' need for haptic feedback, we developed a novel tangible interaction concept for ATC. We iterated a set of tangibles -Fin, Whale, Coin, and Flatterer -based on formative evaluations with 24 ATCOs. From our qualitative results we extracted dimensions relevant to ATCOs' user experience including familiarity, efficiency and engagement. Our results can provide guidance and inspiration for the design of future ATC interfaces.

Roadmap for UX in future operational train traffic control

“…These findings provided the basis for designing positive UX through the envisioned CDSS, with the purpose to fulfil the needs for experiencing competence and popularity at work. Recently, Gramlich et al (2022) applied a UX-centred approach to the design of future tangible input and output devices for air traffic controllers. Based on the air traffic controllers' need for haptic feedback, several tangible interaction concepts were created, iterated and evaluated by air traffic controllers.…”

“…Based on Safety-II, professional workers need to be supported to deal with varying conditions, instead of focusing on error reduction. Recent advances in UX can contribute to Safety-II by considering eudaimonic qualities (Grundgeiger et al, 2021;Hohm et al, 2022), and by cultivating workers' potential through hedonic experiences of feeling competent, efficient, related, and in control (Gramlich et al, 2022;Klüber et al, 2020;Laschke et al, 2020;Savioja et al, 2014;Zumburch et al, 2020). Huber et al (2020) studied the changes in work practices when the paper flight strips used for presenting information to, and documentation by, air traffic controllers were transformed into digital strips in an effort to increase capacity and safety in aviation.…”

“…The social context in leisure is usually a friend, relative, or partner, whereas in the work context, it could be a colleague, a customer, a client or a patient. In work contexts, UX aspects have been, and still are, neglected and it has recently been pointed out by several authors that this neglect is especially pronounced in safety-critical domains (Gramlich et al, 2022, Grundgeiger et al, 2021, Hohm et al, 2022, Laschke et al, 2020. There are several reasons for this and we list some of them below:…”