10,000 Volts

10,000 Volts is our name for technology-assisted debriefing sessions designed for analysing critical incident decision making.

Debriefing data from an incident is captured using software that enables all those present to record their thinking anonymously onto a laptop. Participants’ input is then displayed on screen for all to see.

As many as 20 networked laptops might be laid out around a table. The 10,000 Volts software ensures that all comments entered into the system are non attributable. The session needs a facilitator, whose first job it is to assure participants that they can record could write what they felt about the incident anonymously. Some comments may be easy to attribute to a particular person due to their content or style, but at no time does the software label any input.

For the sake of readability, any spelling mistakes are corrected but the grammar and layout of comments is preserved. Since it’s possible for more than one participant to use a single laptop, numbers can reach considerably beyond the number of computers.

Why use computers? - Just another technologist getting excited about technology?

Depending on the incident, the initial session can be almost a cathartic release as each officer is able to type directly into the system their feelings and beliefs. As the system operates in a non attributable way, even the quiet voices can be heard and everyone is able to make a contribution. The software has many tools that enable a final report to be generated.