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Sensemaking in Safety Critical and Complex Situations
a large portion of the design process and its outcomes. However, this approach is
limited to a company’s own available systems and product offerings, meaning that
ships using equipment from competing manufacturers will no necessarily share the
same design principles. Because a single manufacturer rarely delivers all equipment
of a single workplace, installed t hird-party equipment will still create inconsistencies
within a bridge work environment.
DeSign tranSfer from other fielDS
In recent years, design principles from the web and mobile industries have begun to
enter the maritime domain driven by low-cost, high-quality design guidelines and
technologies. These tools are slowly entering the maritime domain across systems
in the form of user interface components and design patterns. Over time, this may
contribute to system consistency, independently of system vendor. However, there are
challenges using such components since their design guidelines were not originally
intended for a maritime context and lack specific maritime-related content.
THE OPENBRIDGE CONCEPT
OpenBridge is an initiative that began with the aim to improve the usability of user
interfaces in maritime workplaces through collaboration between maritime system
developers ( Nordby, Frydenberg & Fauske, 2018). The consortium is developing an
open innovation approach to maritime workplace design by offering common design
guidelines, implementation methods and approval systems. The OpenBridge vision
is to simplify both the design and implementation of maritime systems in order to
reduce development costs and improve the usability of product offerings.
OpenBridge is based on precedence from the web industry, where freely available frameworks for user interface development have been widely adapted, resulting in reduced costs and improved usability. In order for success, any new design
system initiative must be desirable for the commercial interests of its users and the
industry at large. Consequently, ensuring the design system is attractive from an
economic perspective is of high priority. This includes developing reusable design
patterns, tools supporting both design and implementation processes, and reusable
code. Reusable code has a dual function: first, it reduces the cost of technical implementation. Second, it reduces the need for developers to interpret the design guidelines when creating new interfaces, since many of the components described in the
guideline are already created and catalogued.
the oPenbriDge aPProach to conSiStency
Navigators are constantly interacting with internal bridge equipment ( e.g. electronic
charts, RADAR, conning display, communication channels), other onboard crew and
departments of the ship ( e.g. engine, deck crew) and the external environment ( e.g.
weather conditions, geography, sea traffic, port authorities, vessel traffic services).
Individual bridge equipment itself comprises a hierarchy of elements, which in combination create the interaction experience of its user interfaces, including hardware
Sensemaking in Safety Critical and Complex Situations
a large portion of the design process and its outcomes. However, this approach is
limited to a company’s own available systems and product offerings, meaning that
ships using equipment from competing manufacturers will no necessarily share the
same design principles. Because a single manufacturer rarely delivers all equipment
of a single workplace, installed t hird-party equipment will still create inconsistencies
within a bridge work environment.
DeSign tranSfer from other fielDS
In recent years, design principles from the web and mobile industries have begun to
enter the maritime domain driven by low-cost, high-quality design guidelines and
technologies. These tools are slowly entering the maritime domain across systems
in the form of user interface components and design patterns. Over time, this may
contribute to system consistency, independently of system vendor. However, there are
challenges using such components since their design guidelines were not originally
intended for a maritime context and lack specific maritime-related content.
THE OPENBRIDGE CONCEPT
OpenBridge is an initiative that began with the aim to improve the usability of user
interfaces in maritime workplaces through collaboration between maritime system
developers ( Nordby, Frydenberg & Fauske, 2018). The consortium is developing an
open innovation approach to maritime workplace design by offering common design
guidelines, implementation methods and approval systems. The OpenBridge vision
is to simplify both the design and implementation of maritime systems in order to
reduce development costs and improve the usability of product offerings.
OpenBridge is based on precedence from the web industry, where freely available frameworks for user interface development have been widely adapted, resulting in reduced costs and improved usability. In order for success, any new design
system initiative must be desirable for the commercial interests of its users and the
industry at large. Consequently, ensuring the design system is attractive from an
economic perspective is of high priority. This includes developing reusable design
patterns, tools supporting both design and implementation processes, and reusable
code. Reusable code has a dual function: first, it reduces the cost of technical implementation. Second, it reduces the need for developers to interpret the design guidelines when creating new interfaces, since many of the components described in the
guideline are already created and catalogued.
the oPenbriDge aPProach to conSiStency
Navigators are constantly interacting with internal bridge equipment ( e.g. electronic
charts, RADAR, conning display, communication channels), other onboard crew and
departments of the ship ( e.g. engine, deck crew) and the external environment ( e.g.
weather conditions, geography, sea traffic, port authorities, vessel traffic services).
Individual bridge equipment itself comprises a hierarchy of elements, which in combination create the interaction experience of its user interfaces, including hardware