HCI Design Patterns for C2: A Vision for a DoD Design Reference Library

Command and Control C2 operators require well designed human computer interfaces HCI to effectively perform cognitive work. However, a methodology for transforming a requirements analysis into a useful HCI design is lacking. HCI Design Patterns HCI DP may help bridge this design gap. A set of reusable patterns known to support work functions could reduce the cost and risk associated with the design of future systems. HCI DP are an offshoot of architectural design patterns, used to catalog architectural solutions for recurring architectural design problems. Libraries of HCI DP are viewable online, but they commonly assist user interactions with generic system functions rather than actual C2 work activities. The Air Force and Navy are identifying HCI DP to assist the cognitive and collaborative work of C2 operations. Objectives include 1 Reverse engineering existing HCI designs and indexing them via cognitive work functions, 2 Developing a HCI prototyping environment embedding design patterns and indexing systems. A DOD-wide HCI DP library could promote a new set of HCI standards across the services. Future designs using a common set of patterns will promote interoperability between operators in different armed services collaborating on joint missions.