Innovative software and hardware systems

Workplace of the future

Modern workplaces are characterised by diverse tasks that require different skills. Users want to start tasks at one workplace and continue them at other workplaces or on the move.

This is where classic desktop applications reach their limits. Users can neither use desktop systems on the move nor hold group meetings with them. For such requirements, we develop customised software and hardware systems that are precisely tailored to the respective work situations.

In doing so, workplace-specific functionality and maximum usability come together. Our focus is on innovative workstation types with matching frontends such as touch tables or tablets that can be used with ease through intuitive gestures.

Cooperative interaction at the workplace

Solution for cooperative working

The multitouch table

The cooperation of experts is extremely important in every company today. Far-reaching decisions are made in companies by experts in teams.

Touch tables offer the ideal solution for this cooperative work: thanks to multitouch and so-called tangibles (touchable objects), technically complex applications can be used in parallel and with ease. The large screen area is ideal for map-based applications with georeferenced information. Layer technology, i.e. the display of several facts in transparent layers, brings information together for decision-making situations.

This allows difficult questions to be answered with simple gestures.

Drone control in the control room with multi-touch displays

WPS is working on a project to use drones to feed live video streams and images into a control centre for situation assessment.

Together with the DLR - German Aerospace Centre, we have addressed the question of how the information situation at accident sites can be improved through the use of video rescue drones even before the arrival of the first rescue forces.

Through its use as a mobile control centre, in addition to the classic deployment scenario, ViRL makes it possible to obtain a significantly faster and more precise overview of the accident situation. A better assessment of the situation is thus already possible during the approach and important decisions, such as requesting additional resources, can be made at an early stage.

Video 2

Representation of complex situations

The situation

Decision-makers often discuss alternative solutions and open problems in project meetings or coordination rounds. In such discussions it is important that all participants are able to grasp the complex situation with the different levels of content, the temporally intertwined events and boundary conditions "at a glance".

These meetings require decisions with a major impact on operations and must be made in a short time. In our work, a video wall has proved its worth as a front end for a clear picture of the situation combined with a specialised moderator's workstation.

A high-resolution video display enables all participants to share a view of the current situation. A moderator uses his workstation system to present the prepared alternative solutions and records the desired actions and their prioritisations for all to see.

Mobile systems

Today, important tasks are not only done at fixed workplaces, but also discussed and coordinated with (external) participants on site. For such meetings, up-to-date information and facts often have to be available. Here, mobile devices offer a suitable supplement to the workstation in the office. They transport selected documents to different locations, provide an overview of the current situation there and allow feedback with the head office if the corresponding network access is available.

Today, mobile applications mostly run on tablets or smartphones. Information has to be displayed on relatively small screens and operated via multi-touch gestures. Since employees often switch between workplace systems and mobile applications, the various front ends should be based on a common interaction model.

Your contact person

If we have piqued your interest and you would like to learn more about the topic of the workplace of the future, please feel free to contact us.

Contact Person

Dr. Eugen Reiswich

Project Manager and Software Developer

Dr. Eugen Reiswich studied business informatics and earned his doctorate in computer science at the University of Hamburg. Since 2009, he has been researching and developing control stations at WPS…

eugen.reiswich@wps.de

Contact

Further information

Here you can download further information material:

Downloads

Visionäre Leitstände (pdf)