We dedicated two intense days to a workshop focused on a deeply impactful challenge: enhancing the safety of railway linemen through innovative interaction design. This wasn't an isolated exercise; it was a crucial part of the Automatic Track Warning System (ATWS), a significant project with the potential to dramatically improve the safety of trackside workers throughout Europe.

Collaborating directly with stakeholders, our team tackled the core problem of delivering timely and effective warnings in hazardous environments. The ATWS under development incorporates a remarkable technology: a track-side train presence alert device (TPAD) that can sense approaching trains without any disruption to the existing critical signaling systems. This information is then relayed via wireless mobile terminals (MTs) directly to the workers, alerting them not only to the immediate threat of trains but also to other potential risks in their vicinity.

My contribution within this workshop centered on two vital modules, each with a direct bearing on worker well-being. Firstly, I focused on conceiving and refining alarm concepts that are not just functional but are also instantly recognizable and actionable, ensuring workers receive clear and unambiguous warnings when danger is imminent. Secondly, I'm actively working on improving the user interface of the software used to rigorously test these very alarm sequences. My aim is to create a testing environment that is efficient, reliable, and allows for thorough evaluation and optimization of the warning system before it's deployed in real-world, high-stakes scenarios.

Working alongside Kathrin Ballweg, a fellow Master's student at TU Darmstadt, brings valuable interdisciplinary perspectives and strengthens our collective ability to develop impactful and user-centered solutions. This workshop represents more than just a design exercise; it's a direct opportunity to apply my skills to a system that has the potential to save lives and create a safer working environment for railway linemen across Europe. The potential impact of this project is my driving force, and I'm committed to contributing meaningfully to its success.