Central Research Hub

What this research is about

Many workplaces rely on physical equipment, but knowing what exists, where it is, whether it is ready to use, or who understands it is often harder than it should be. These studies explore how people deal with that reality in practice.

The goal is not to test a finished product. The goal is to learn from real responses, realistic scenarios and interactive experiments so that future tools can better support the way people actually work.

What do we mean by equipment?

In this research, equipment is understood in the broadest sense. It includes the tools, instruments and machines you use in your work, but also sensors, components, mechanical parts, subsystems, test rigs, infrastructure and spaces around you. In short: anything physical you might need to find, access, understand or use.

Examples in scope

Tools Machines Sensors Components Mechanical parts Test rigs Infrastructure Physical spaces

Participate in the research

Each study explores a different aspect of how people discover, understand and work with equipment and organizational knowledge. You are welcome to participate in any of the available studies below.

Understand today's challenges How people keep track of equipment and work around gaps.

Explore discovery behaviour How people search for equipment, methods, expertise and prior knowledge.

Experience the prototype How a live Central interaction feels in a realistic situation.

Available now · choose any study

Available

Equipment Visibility

Help us understand how people keep track of equipment: what exists, where it is, whether it is usable, and what information is needed to work with it.

Questionnaire <10 minutes Anonymous

Open study

Available

Equipment Discovery

Work through a realistic problem and explore how people discover useful equipment, methods, expertise and previous knowledge when the right path is not obvious.

Simulation <10 minutes Anonymous

Open study

Live experience

Central Live

Step into a realistic situation and interact with Central as a live research prototype. The experience adapts as you search, ask questions and decide how to move forward.

Interactive <10 minutes Anonymous

Launch experience

Next study · coming later

Coming later

Next study

The next phase of this research is currently under development. Additional research activities will be added as the project evolves.

Future research Not yet available

Coming later

About Central

What is Central?

Central is an evolving platform that supports the discovery of equipment, expertise and organizational knowledge in research and technical environments. While already used in practice, it continues to evolve through ongoing research, collaboration with its users, and studies such as those presented here.

Curious about Central?

If you would like to learn more about Central, discuss how it could support your organization, or hear about future developments, you can leave your contact details after completing any study.

Choose a study first

About this project

This research is part of a MAS thesis focused on early-stage product learning through real-world experiments.

The goal is to understand where meaningful value emerges in practice and how early signals can guide product decisions. This project is conducted by Stephan Caruso as part of his MAS in Management, Technology, and Economics at ETH Zurich.

Research setting People working with equipment, tools, systems and physical resources.

Research approach Short studies, realistic scenarios and interactive experiments.