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Follow on Google News | Dataline delivers wireless software to help train Ambulance Hazardous Area Response TeamsBy turning a concept in to reality in a short timeframe, and fostering a close working relationship - Dataline Software has produced a cost effective product that exceeded HARTs original expectations.
Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) are specially recruited and trained personnel who provide the ambulance response to major incidents. They provide specialist medical care during patient extrication - often involving hazardous materials and hazardous environments. These may occur as a result of an accident or may be the result of deliberate actions. HART regularly conduct training courses which take the form of table-top exercises. Teams of three or four candidates are asked questions about how best to cope with particular scenarios. This process was traditionally carried out on paper or white board and HART wished to encourage more discussion within each group and to reduce the possibility of one team using the input of other teams. HART identified a solution where questions and responses could be transmitted and gathered electronically - and discussed their requirement with Dataline Software in Brighton. In less than one month - using agile methodology - Dataline developed a wireless collaboration system to fulfil HART’s requirements. The result is a system that is multifunctional and not only suited to exercises, but also workshops and incident debriefs. Wireless Table Top System The system was designed and implemented so that the course trainer is able to present questions to the computers allocated to the teams of trainees. Each team is then able to compose and submit their answers/responses back to the trainer independently of the other groups. The responses can then be displayed on a projector for all the teams to view and discuss, but only after all the teams have completed their submissions. The questions and responses are exchanged via wireless connections between the trainer's and delegate groups' laptops. By posing questions in this way, the trainee teams: - Are encouraged to think independently rather than relying on the input of others, - Have immediate interaction with the presentation, - Can be tested by the facilitator and encouraged to produce original thoughts. Since its release, the system has demonstrated its mobility and has been successfully used at a number of training events around the UK. Due to the flexibility within the system the exercise facilitator has the ability to fully test candidates and the improvement in candidate learning has been significant. The HART programme maintains a consistent evaluation process and the product has been rated highly by candidates and end users. Of note other organisations who conduct similar training sessions are showing significant interest in this cost effective system. System Architecture & Modules The initial system configuration operated on five wireless enabled laptops. Laptop 1 is the control machine used by the trainer, and is linked to a projector. Machines 2, 3, 4 & 5 are positioned on each of the trainee team tables. When requested by the trainer’s laptop, the team laptop presents all the teams with a series of questions, known as injects. Following a team debate, each team enters its answers and submits them back to Laptop 1. Once answers have been received from all four teams - the answers are projected and generally discussed by the teams. The process is then repeated for further injects as the table top course progresses. The system required the design and creation of four separate modules employing .NET, C# and WPF technologies, namely: 1. The Trainer Module - This application acts as both the control machine submitting injects to the groups and displaying the submissions with the trainer being able to navigate through inject by inject. 2. The Team Module - This application displays the injects transmitted by the trainer and allows the team to compose an answer script and to submit it back to the trainer. 3. The Setup and Admin Module - This application enables the trainer to customise aspects of the course - e.g. how injects are presented to delegates during the course. It also allows multiple courses to be configured, with customised attributes for each. 4. The Wireless Communication Interface - This was developed to enable communication between the Trainer and Team modules described above. The interface is transparent to users but allowed the developers to use a consistent and abstract interface to transmit and receive information between the modules. Summary The system was developed in line with the customers requirements and Dataline was able to provide valuable support by way of suggestions and proposals to improve the product. By turning the concept in to reality within a short timeframe, and fostering a close working relationship - Dataline has produced a cost effective product that exceeded HARTs expectations. About Dataline Software (http://www.dataline.co.uk) Dataline Software delivers bespoke software to businesses of all sizes and has a twenty-five year track record of delivering projects on time and to budget. It's portfolio of products includes i5®, a unique tool for publishing SQL databases on the web. Dataline is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a Cisco Registered Partner. # # # Dataline Software delivers bespoke software to businesses of all sizes and has a twenty-five year track record of delivering projects on time and to budget. It's portfolio of products includes i5®, a unique tool for publishing SQL databases on the web. Dataline is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a Cisco Registered Partner. End
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