1. Innovative Solutions in Alerting for Persons with Disabilities Javier Mulero Chaves (DLR)
Workshop on needs of persons with disabilities throughout disaster management cycle
Riga, 12th January 2015

2. The Alerting Process Something happens
Authority notices and makes a decision
Authority alerts/informs the population
The population applies protective action
Increasing threats
Increasing number of events
Who?  it depends!
Type of hazard
Jurisdiction / Governance
Local / Regional /National / European?
Plans  Preparedness?
Different approaches
Reach 99.99%?
Timely
Communication habits
Understand / Trust
Risk perception
Preparedness

3. From alert reception to (re)action
Several factors affecting the effectiveness of alerting systems:
Prediction-related factors
Dissemination-related factors
Personal and cultural factors
Understand
Believe
Verify
Personalize
Accessibility for people with disabilities:
Access to the information
Implementation of protective actions
Effective alert of population at risk
Inclusive multi-channel communication

4. Multi-modal Delivery of Alert Messages (I)
Objective: Improve understanding and personalization of alert messages
Tailored presentation of alert messages according to the needs of people with disabilities:
Visual symbols
Text
Audio
Sign Language messages
Challenges:
Interface design
Message creation
Content transport: capacity / timeliness

5. Multi-modal Delivery of Alert Messages (II)
Storage and processing capabilities of receiver devices:
Keeping intelligence at the user side
Avoiding transmission of multimodal content
Allowing tailored user configuration
Allows message creation in a unique and consistent manner:
Avoiding typos / jargon / complex structures
Improving familiarity and trust in message

6. Multi-modal Delivery of Alert Messages (III)
Modular composition of alert messages

7. The Communications Paradigm

8. Conclusions and Recommendations
Improve effectiveness by increasing understanding and personalization
Different needs require different presentation modes which can be combined
Keeping intelligence at user side allows authorities the unique creation of alert messages
Technical feasibility thanks to advanced receiver devices and the use of alerting libraries:
User action is needed
Standardization of procedures and solutions

9. Contact
Javier Mulero Chaves PHAROS Project Coordinator DLR - German Aerospace Center Institute of Communications and Navigation Oberpfaffenhofen Weßling Germany Tel: Fax: