This interactive study lets you use Central to solve a realistic equipment-related problem. Rather than answering a normal questionnaire, you will interact with the platform as you naturally would while trying to find useful equipment, expertise, methods or documentation.
Launch Central LiveUnlike the other studies, this is not a questionnaire. You will interact directly with Central while working through a realistic situation.
You will first answer a few short questions about your work so the scenario can be adapted to your field. Then you will enter a realistic situation and use Central however feels natural.
You tell us briefly what kind of equipment or physical resources you work with.
A problem appears in your working environment, and you need to find a way forward.
You search, ask questions and explore whatever seems useful to solve the situation.
Central feels closer to a lightweight working interface: you type what you need, see results, and decide what to ask next.
In this research, equipment is understood in the broadest sense. It includes tools, instruments and machines, but also sensors, components, mechanical parts, subsystems, test rigs, infrastructure and physical spaces. In short: anything physical you might need to find, access, understand or use.
Please interact as naturally as possible. You do not need to be an engineer, and there are no correct answers. We are interested in how people search, refine and decide when a practical situation is uncertain.
The study is anonymous and used for research purposes. At the end, you may optionally leave contact details if you are interested in hearing more about Central or future studies.