Abstract
Dismounted soldier systems (DSS) are developed for armed forces around the world, and several usability issues need to be considered. Feedback from soldiers after field studies provides critical insight into user needs, problems and possibilities, guiding the development towards efficient future DSS design and recommendations for procurement. Three field studies were performed with armed forces personnel, using two variants of a GPS system as a DSS. Feedback was collected in the form of questionnaire answers and focus group discussions. Most soldiers agreed upon large benefits of a DSS for platoon and squad leaders, but found it unnecessary for individual soldiers. Benefits of a DSS with evolved functions for navigation and battlefield spatial awareness were mentioned in all studies. Major concerns were battery life, information security, light emission when used in darkness, compatibility with other systems, developing tactics, and the need for sufficient training.
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