Representing Work for Device Design and Evaluation Using Biclustering

Abstract

Successful design of technology for safety critical or high-stakes work demands a clear understanding of the work to be supported, a demand not required for many casual-use applications. Methods are needed to ensure the interaction design of safety-critical systems is aligned with the structure of work. We describe a method for representing work needs, the Work Matrix, to guide design and evaluation. A Work Matrix can be input to biclustering algorithms. Biclustering uncovers implicit structure in the Work Matrix, which can provide guidance for design. Our approach should be relevant to analysts and designers of software and automation for demanding work domains. We present our approach using the domain of piloting and flight deck automation to illustrate how biclustering results can provide guidance for interaction design.