The power of collaborative systems
The power of collaborative systems
The need to exchange meaningful information in a timely manner and to create a common operational picture in order to successfully plan and execute complex missions is at the center of emerging net-centric command and control operations. A clearly related and critical problem is that of supporting and enhancing the tactical decision making capabilities of distributed collaborative groups. And of particular concern is displays and interactive dialogs that will help collaborative groups understand uncertainty in decision related information along several dimensions, to adopt appropriate strategies for reducing uncertainty of the relevant type, and to improve decisions and outcomes in the context of whatever uncertainty remains.
Perceptronics Solutions conducted an ONR sponsored SBIR Phase I project to provide an innovative and readily usable method by which a distributed group of decision makers can assess, share, and integrate uncertainties in decision-relevant information for the purpose of evaluating options by decision analytical methods. Our approach was to develop a Decision Information Icon (DICON) that merged quantification of subjective information methods with advanced concepts of collaborative group decision aiding.
We based our DICON design on configural principles and human factors considerations. Computer implementation included specification of consistent scenario-based semantics for DICONs and specification of scales for measuring different aspects of uncertainty portrayed by DICONs. We also developed algorithms for computer generation of DICONs. A stand-alone version running on Math Lab software was made operational early in Phase I and was provided to the MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics Department Humans and Automation Laboratory (HAL) for initial usability evaluation.
The MIT study validated the basic DICON concept by (1) showing subjects were able to understand the DICON features, apply its functionality in a typical tactical decision scenario and recognize its usefulness for other cases; and (2) executing a complete DICON task flow process in coordination with our Tactical Group Decision Analysis System (TGDAS) development. These initial empirical results strongly indicate that the DICON concept will be very useful in actual operational settings. The demonstrated integration with TGDAS illustrates that the DICON representation can enhance information assessment for a wide variety of decision support systems. DICOM integrated with TGDAS will give enhanced decision support to commanders and command staffs.
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