Services

HUMAN FACTORS

We promote a human-centred approach to system design with the goal of optimising interactions between people, tools and procedures, so to ensure high level performance in socio-technical systems. In particular the company provides expert consultancy in field studies, making an in-depth analysis of work practices and procedures and collecting requirements for the introduction of future systems. Furthermore, Deep Blue assists in planning and run human-in-the-loop experiments, from real time simulations to field trials with the objective of validating future systems or re-designing existing ones.

Human Factors Services

• Safety-Human Factors Integration
• Surveys
• Field Studies
• Activity and Work Analysis
• User-centred Design
• Scenario-based Design
• Prototype Evaluation
• Simulation and Trials
• Scientific Dissemination

VALIDATION

Validation is the process by which the fitness-for-purpose of a new system or operational concept being developed is established. In practice, validation can be defined as the process of answering a question like ‘Are we building the right system?’. The answer is then provided to stakeholders to support their decision-making activity. Therefore the validation process is structured in order to satisfy the information needs of relevant stakeholders about performances of systems/concepts.
Deep Blue offers support in the definition of these validation processes and in carrying out the validation activities. To structure them we refer to the framework defined by the European Operational Concept Validation Methodology (E-OCVM) developed by EUROCONTROL.
This methodology is used in conjunction with the Validation Data Repository (VDR), which is a repository of validation exercise data that focuses on what the various projects have done, how they did it and what they found out. The VDR provides a data structure to fully support E-OCVM and mutual awareness of the progress of validation.

Validation Services

• Surveys
• Activity and Work Analysis
• Stakeholder Analysis
• Validation Strategy and Plan
• Simulation and Trials
• Scientific Dissemination

SAFETY

Deep Blue operates in the domains of civil aviation and rail traffic, contributing to safety improvement with research studies and applied solutions. These include:

• Analysing the safety of systems and procedures, based on current regulations and state-of-the-art methodologies.
• Supporting organisations in change management processes for the introduction of new tools and technologies.
• Promoting the implementation of Safety Management System for the effective use of safety data.

Deep Blue offers specific expertise in the integration of advanced technological systems and human operators. We strive to optimize the quality of computer-supported work, in order to enhance safety and reduce negative consequences of human errors and technical failures.

Safety services

• Safety-Human Factors Integration
• Activity and Work Analysis
• Safety Cases
• Safety Assessment
• Risk Analysis
• Human Reliability Analysis
• Incident Investigation
• Simulation and Trials
• Scientific Dissemination

INTERACTION DESIGN

Deep Blue provides consultancy in the analysis, design and evaluation of complex systems in terms of relations and interactions between users, the environment, tools, procedures and regulations. Starting from a systematic application of user-centred principles and participatory design, Deep Blue integrates creative processes of innovative concept generation with technology benchmarking and activity analysis in the field. In generating and testing solutions, aesthetic, functional, organisational, emotional and cultural aspects of the interaction are taken into equal account in their impact on the cognitive performance.

Interaction design Services

Deep Blue has a consolidate experience in the development of innovative concepts. We generate solutions through the integration of user observation and creative techniques, but also evaluate them through iterative rapid prototyping. Specific services in the area of Interaction design include:

• Activity and work analysis producing activity models and real life scenarios
• Innovative concept generation represented in form of video scenarios, interactive simulation and animations
• User-centred design
• Scenario-based design
• Prototype development to simulate new concepts and allow user assessment.

Other services include Multimedia content design and development and scientific dissemination.

DISSEMINATION

Deep Blue provides expert consultancy in the design and development of Communication Plans including, but not limited to, a set of communication objectives, internal and external audiences, channels, specific activities with timeline and frequency, responsibility and partnerships (to implement each activities). Furthermore, the company develops multimedia contents and tools to assist clients in effectively achieving the objectives of the communication plan. The company provides also scientific knowledge dissemination, development of IT communication tools, publication of articles, delivering of papers at conferences, writing of authoritative reference works and organization of international seminars.

Dissemination services

• Define communication plans tailored to the specific needs of the client Craft e-newsletters acting as reporter, writer and project manager and ensure high quality editorial and design as well as seek external contributors
• Develop the Information Architecture
• Graphic Design
• Design and develop multimedia contents
• Develop innovative forms of field communication (e.g. audio-video blogs, podcasts, broadcasts, etc.)
• Promote External Communication through web design and development
• Craft brochures including editorial plan, expert writing, mailing list management, production and distribution
• Scientific Dissemination

TRAINING

Deep Blue provides training services to the industry and the public sector. We design, develop and deploy high-quality professional development and training coursers on User-centred design, Human Factors, Safety and Validation. All courses are taught by experienced experts in their respective fields and lead the attendee to improved professional skills that are directly applicable. Blended training modules are designed including in-presence and e-learning formats and containing ad-hoc developed contents for lectures and project work.

Training Services

• Training Objectives Definition
• Entry Competences Evaluation
• Peer to Peer Learning
• Scenario-Based Learning
• Blended Learning
• Multimedia Content Design and Development
• Scientific Dissemination
• Project-based Learning

• Human Factors
• Validation
• Safety
• Interaction Design
• Dissemination
• Training