Portable Devices to Detect Directed Energy: User Perceptions of Personal Risk and Protective Devices

The malicious use of lasers to interfere with the activities of individuals in diverse environments is a growing concern. To increase awareness of public health workers, the Tricorder, a unique laser characterization sensor, is being fabricated. In this paper, the Tricorder’s human factors aspects and operational use are studied to enhance acceptance and increase use. Users’ perspectives were collected with Q-methodology. The first question explored technical features. The second question dealt with the intended use. Twelve individuals responded to the first question, and nine individuals responded to the second question. Statistical analysis of the responses revealed four factors (common opinion groups) about equipment and three factors about use. Interestingly, job titles did not correlate with any single opinion group, implying user acceptance will depend on factors not captured by studying workflow or equipment specifications alone. Annette L. Valenta University of Illinois at Chicago, USA DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-2653-9.ch009