Autonomy and Safety: A Quantitative Study with Control Room Operators on Affinity for Technology Interaction and Wish for Pervasive Computing Solutions

Control rooms are central to the well-being of many people. In terms of human computer interaction (HCI), they are characterized by complex IT infrastructures providing numerous graphical user interfaces. More modern approaches have been researched for decades. However, they are rarely used. What role does the attitude of operators towards novel solutions play? In one of the first quantitative cross-domain studies in safety-related HCI research (N = 155), we gained insight into affinity for technology interaction (ATI) and wish for pervasive computing solutions of operators in three domains (emergency response, public utilities, maritime traffic). Results show that ATI values were rather high, with broader range only in maritime traffic operators. Furthermore, the assessment of autonomy is more strongly related to the desire for novel solutions than perceived added safety value. These findings can provide guidance for the design of pervasive computing solutions, not only but especially for users in safety-critical contexts.