In a modern world torn apart by war the basic human need to feel safe is threatened. In order to defend and protect this need, technical defense systems solving complex situations are of great importance. As the rate of technological innovation accelerates it is important for companies like Saab to maintain their competitive advantage. One way of doing this is by offering modern systems of high quality with intuitive interfaces increasing the usability.

This master’s thesis aims at evaluating Saab Surveillance’s command and control system C2STRIC by an analysis of its user interface. It further aims at identifying usability problems and designing prototypes solving said problems, to increase the system’s usability. The system in question is a safety critical system, meaning that its malfunction might lead to severe consequences or death. This system characteristic permeates the whole thesis, resulting in findings unique for C2STRIC and thus maybe not generalizable.

Through a close collaboration and interviews with the users the issues were identified and compiled. Due to secrecy reasons all the interviews were conducted live without recordings. All of them at Saab’s premises, except one which was conducted at “Stridslednings- och luftbevakningsskolan” at Uppsala garrison. Most of the interviews were scheduled while some were spontaneous. With the help of the compilation of identified problems, high fidelity prototypes could be developed in Adobe XD through an iterative user-centered design process. The process provided continuous feedback which helped in delivering prototypes satisfying the needs of the users. The primary problems regarded disturbances of the situational awareness of the user, i.e., issues preventing the user from performing its tasks according to circumstances. These disturbances were caused by ineffective navigation in the interface and poorly optimized object visualization. Prototypes introducing transparency, docking systems, search functions, radial menus and a new main menu solved these problems and increased the usability of C2STRIC – and they will in extension help in defending and protecting the basic human need to feel safe.