Notification of Updated Status
Because WebOSB allows multiple users to simultaneously view and edit the same status board, all users need to be aware when information has been updated or added. WebOSB provides a visual notification that information (a record in the spreadsheet) has been updated using a publisher/subscriber capability.
As users open an individual status board, they are placed into View mode. Notification tracks their entry and automatically marks them as a subscriber so WebOSB can make the user aware when changes are made to that specific status board.
When a user decides to edit or add a record within a status board, notification tracks their transition to Edit mode and marks them as a publisher of updated or new information. When that user commits their entry, WebOSB creates an internal notification and automatically distributes it to all users that have subscribed by opening the same status board. The WebOSB publisher/subscriber notification provides a New Data button to make users aware that a entry has been made. Any records that have been updated are marked by a magenta highlight. This capability provides context to the user that the content of the status board (and individual entries) have been updated.
The knowledge that new information is available is a key benefit of WebOSB. During an emergency, displaying new information is important and can be critical. WebOSB makes the user aware that new information exists without changing the contents of the current display window. This capability is important to users that need to be able to quickly identify which items have changed since they last looked at the status board. The entire status board can be refreshed by clicking the New Data button.
