Knowledge Sharing in the First Aid Domain through End-User Development

The paper addresses the knowledge sharing needs of an Italian non-profit association for first aid. Their volunteers, and particularly ambulance drivers, need to know the territory to provide first aid quickly and in a safe manner. This knowledge is often tacit and distributed. Paper-based maps are currently the means to spread and share knowledge among volunteers, while training sessions regularly provide information about holdups and fast routes to a place. The paper describes FirstAidMap, a collaborative web mapping system we have designed with volunteers to satisfy their needs. The system beyond supporting the training activity of ambulance drivers provides an interactive space that all volunteers can directly shape to build and share their knowledge about the territory. FirstAidMap integrates proper end-user development functionalities to engage and motivate volunteers to participate in map shaping, thus evolving from passive users to co-designers of map content. Results of a preliminary evaluation are discussed.