What We Do

We Enable advanced decisions

RCS employs a rigorous, proprietary Applied Cognitive Systems Engineering (ACSE) methodology which combines principles of cognitive psychology, systems engineering, perceptual science and graphic design. Our results help users overcome data overload, automation surprises, and other challenges associated with complex domains by employing our unique, fourth generation methodology. 

RCS has codified over 40 years of decision support science into a methodology that cuts through complexity in the most challenging environments.

Human & Computer Intelligence

To make smarter, faster decisions within high-stakes, fast-paced environments, you must combine two forms of intelligence that don't easily mesh: the human and the computer. RCS focuses on the point where these two intersect, which is also where the toughest problems appear. Time after time, we find users:

  • Overwhelmed by data

  • Drowning in well-intentioned alarms or alerts

  • Viewing data in formats designed for computers rather than information designed for human beings

Applied Cognitive Systems Engineering (ACSE)

RCS’s Applied Cognitive Systems Engineering(ACSE) is an end-to-end, traceable engineering process, starting with analysis.

ACSE-A (Analysis) allows us to understand the users’ knowledge, reasoning strategies, and decision requirements.

ACSE-D (Design) converts that decision analysis into compelling, intuitive information visualizations that embed that user expertise and support decision-making.

ACSE-I (Implementation) is where our fearless software engineers work closely with interface designers to accurately bring the designs to life.

ACSE-T (Testing) closes the loop with a one-of-a-kind decision-centered testing approach that measures decision-making effectiveness rather than superficial physical metrics.

To put it simply, we are ergonomic specialists for the brain. Using our proprietary Cognitive Resilience Model™, we help organizations escape data analysis and decision-making complexity by adapting computer intelligence systems so they are comfortable for users. We make your current systems conform to your thinking, rather than forcing you to think like a computer.


We work with many different systems created by large technology companies. These offerings have many extraordinary capabilities, but most lack that final essential piece: conforming perfectly to the way you and your colleagues think.

Our CSE Tactics

  • Knowledge Elicitation

    We observe on-mission practitioners under real world pressures, expert interviews, and numerous other techniques to extract key insights that are often overlooked by traditional systems engineering processes.

  • System Evaluation

    Using over 40 years of cognitive systems engineering experience, we can identify brittle elements in your system and predictable joint human-computer failures. We also offer our unique U3SE evaluation, which finds opportunities to improve Usability, Usefulness, and Understanding of your product along with recommended solutions.

  • Cognitive Work Analysis

    By using theories of expert decision-making we capture a model of expertise, the key decision making needs and the information requirements to support them.

  • Innovation Facilitation

    Develop breakthrough inventions - on budget, on schedule, with controlled risk.

  • UI Design

    We design system interfaces that tame complexity and make systems work for the users. Our interface designs are informed by a comprehensive work analysis so that your product best supports your users’ decision-making needs. Human perception and usability are driving factors for every screen and interaction.

  • Software Development

    We develop applications in many forms, whether a widget for the web, a stand-alone system, or distributed cloud application.

  • Decision-Centered Testing

    This is done by measuring the closed-loop decision-making effectiveness of the human-computer system.

  • User Support & Technical Marketing

    We create compelling brochures, posters and other working aids to clearly communicate your new system to users and stakeholders to ensure a successful project. We create materials to help inform and empower your users, ranging from quick-start guides and online help, to interactive training sessions.

  • Storyboarding and Early Prototyping

    We bring the vision to life, long before software costs are committed, to exercise the design ideas.