Evaluating HUBzero as a Collaboration Platform for Reliability Engineering

摘要

HUBzero is a Web2.0 based scientific collaboration platform with various social networking and data management features like user groups, access controlled file sharing and review mechanism, content tagging, online discussions, wikis and blogs that can be used by researchers and commercial organizations. We have implemented the HUB-in-a-box version of HUBzero for the Reliability Engineering division of a large organization as a knowledge management system for organizing and retrieving Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis, Reliability Growth Analysis and Shakedown Testing results. HUBzero allows people in different teams to collaborate in a social networking manner and also saves time by reusing the work already done. The system includes a mechanism of acquiring, publishing and sharing data in an automated fashion by linking HUBzero to other software being used in the organization. We also developed new navigational features based on the metadata information with sorting and filtering capabilities, enabled automated tagging and improved the reviewing process by redesigning the user interface. The next step is to conduct a usability study of these customizations using the cognitive walkthrough method and beta testing of the application with actual users. Based on the results of these studies, we expect to enhance the usability of HUBzero.