Role of wearable devices in enhancing firefighter's performance during emergency events
UX Research • Firefighters • AI
• Wearable Devices • Client Project
Introduction
This initiative was part of the "Meaning and Form in HCI" course, partnering with the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab (CTIL). CTIL, a joint venture between the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering and University Information Technology Services (UITS) at Indiana University, advances research in emergency response technologies.
Our client, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), is an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce's NTIA. FirstNet Authority manages FirstNet, the national communications network for emergency responders.
Role: I collaborated with a cross-disciplinary team of four graduate students who sought to understand first responders’ contexts and how wearable technology could best serve their mission.
I assisted in the synthesis of a comprehensive literature review, compiling an annotated bibliography, conducting user interviews, developing executive summaries, drafting reports and sharing our team’s insights through presentations to our client, FirstNet Authority.
Client: FirstNet Authority
Responsibilities: Literature Review, User Interviews, Market Analysis
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Tools: Zotero, Google Docs, Figjam
Timeline: January 2023- December 2023 (15 weeks)
Team: Esen Gokpinar-Shelton, Rob Quick, Nick Weiner
Project Summary
Our project sought to gain a comprehensive understanding of how wearable technology could be used to enhance firefighters’ safety and effectiveness, with a particular focus on critical firefighting activities.
Scope
Our project reviewed and synthesized existing literature based on wearables’ utility for first responders. Market research helped to better understand the state of the industry. We examined our client’s practices, technologies, and focus areas and sought an in-depth understanding of how wearable technology could assist in firefighters’ situational awareness and decision-making process.
Project Objectives
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Gather firefighters’ perceptions of the use of wearables and AI-assisted technology
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Identify ethical concerns related to firefighters’ use of AI-wearable devices
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Offer preliminary design recommendations for AI-assisted integration in firefighting operations
The Challenge
Applications for wearable technology range from helping people monitor vital information to staying in touch with close friends and family. While this technology is increasingly ubiquitous in modern society, there is a need to explore the use of wearable applications that support the mission of first responders, specifically firefighters.
Approach
How did we translated user pain points into a effective recommendations?
discover
Identify
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literature review
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user interviews
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market evaluation
define
Analyze
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user pain points
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market research
ideate
Brainstorm
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reflect on research
design
recommend
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provide recommendations
Research Methodology
Our study employed three main approaches: literature review, market analysis, and user interviews.
Literature Review
Our team examined 67 diverse sources, including academic papers, conference proceedings, book sections, and industry publications. These resources focused on wearable technology applications for first responders and the underlying technologies. ​​​
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Results: Our literature review found that there are several advantages to the use of wearables in firefighting, such as increased safety, real-time monitoring of vital signs, and improved coordination during emergencies. However, there are also technical limitations, including security concerns and cost. Opportunities for further development include the use of wearable sensors for auditory, tactile, and visual feedback, the development of peer-to-peer systems, and edge computing.
Market Research
During the research I proposed "we should conduct a market evaluation to validate our research and gain a perspective on what type of devices does firefighter use. We developed a catalog to compare different aspects of wearable devices for firefighters (e.g. device type, operating system, battery life, charging time, comfort, durability, size, weight, sensor types, connectivity options, communication capabilities, display type and resolution, and user interface).
Results: Furthermore, our market research found that there is an increasing demand for wearable technology among firefighters due to the need for improved situational awareness, communication, and safety. Trends in the market include the use of sensors to track vital signs and the storage and management of data in the cloud.
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​This evaluation included an on-site visit to the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International exhibition, Indianapolis to observe firsthand the latest wearable technologies on display.
Interviews: Understanding firefighter perspectives
We conducted two semi-structured interviews, one of which I personally led, while moderating the other. This approach yielded detailed insights and uncovered new information about firefighters' current workflows, responsibilities during emergencies, and challenges with existing technology.
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​We asked leaders in the fire service questions that were wearable-specific to understand types of wearable technologies used in firefighting. We sought to understand their perceptions regarding the ethical implications of using AI wearable devices in firefighting, and their preferences for receiving alerts and notifications on AI-assisted wearable devices in various emergency situations.
Our interviews with firefighters provided additional insights into the use of wearables in firefighting situations. While there are advantages to using wearables, such as detecting heat signatures and hotspots and providing biometric data for firefighters' health, limitations such as battery life and user error must be taken into account. Training and consistency over time are essential for wearables to gain trust, and the usage of biometric data may face opposition. Additionally, while AI-assisted technology in firefighting wearables has the potential to improve emergency response effectiveness, battery life issues with thermal imaging cameras may pose difficulties.
Recommendations
The report built a foundation for design of future wearable technologies. However, additional research and user feedback are necessary prior to product design and development.
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Firefighters carry a complex set of turnout gear. Physical or mental requirements that add elements is not advisable. Wearables introduced should be as transparent as possible.
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Personal health information and privacy must be preserved at every stage (collection, transmission, and reporting). However, in some cases, the physical safety of human firefighters may allow for conditions where it is acceptable to provide information to incident commanders.
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Implementation of AI should be introduced in stages due to an identified resistance to change. Trust in AI could be reinforced by starting with non-critical administrative and communication tasks rather than introducing emergency decision support during life-threatening events. The ability to audit results of decision-making AI will be critical in this trust-building period.
Next Steps & Conclusion
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Future research teams could update the literature review as this research evolves quickly. Subject matter experts could help refine and validate the interview protocol. Large-scale interviews with representative samples of firefighters could help better understand their views on wearable technology and artificial intelligence in emergency response situations. Evaluations of wearable technology’s impact could be beneficial as well.
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