SIROG: a responsive hypertext manual

Power plant operation and control in modern screen-based control rooms takes place using computer displays which are directly coupled to the plant state. However, operators are provided with operational instructions and background information by means of paper manuals or at best hypertext manuals with fixed structure and contents. Thus, information presentation is independent of the current situation. To improve information accessibility we developed a situation-dependent information medium: responsive manuals. A responsive manual consists of a “standard” hypertext-based operational manual and a task description. It monitors the changing situation and based on this is able to point to relevant information. To show the advantages of the responsive manual approach in the domain of power plant operation we implemented the SIROG (situation-related operational guidance) system in close cooperation with Siemans. It covers all parts of an operational manual for accidents in a Siemans nuclear power plant, and is coupled directly to the plant state. The article discusses the basics of the responsive manuals approach and the role of “responsiveness” in SIROG.