Training
Effectiveness Evaluation for Virtual Technologies and Environments (VIRTE)
Joseph Cohn, PhD
LT MSC USNR
Naval Research Laboratory
Interaction with VE involves the ability of individuals to effectively perform essential perceptual-sensory-motor tasks within the virtual world. More specifically, this can involve the ability to move about the VE, manipulate virtual objects, locate virtual sounds, deal appropriately with physical constraints, or perform visual tasks (i.e., discriminate colors; judge distance; search for, recognize, and estimate the size of objects). Interactive technologies include multi-modal 3D displays and input devices, real-time rendering, and distributed simulation. These technologies define how the environment is portrayed and how it responds to user actions. As these technologies mature, tools are needed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the quality of interaction. VIRTE’s Training Effectiveness Evaluation (TEE) effort was conceived for just this purpose.
Our approach takes maximum advantage of the growing knowledge base in human-centric design to build systems that are well-suited for enhancing performance of real-world tasks. In addition to traditional Knowledge Acquisition and Knowledge Engineering approaches, our interdisciplinary development team is utilizing team task analyses, motion sickness evaluations, and usability analyses. The team is also developing a comprehensive approach for showing performance enhancement through VE training. This cross-disciplinary approach gives the team a unique perspective into designing effective, low cost, deployable simulations. The technology testbeds that are being developed are useful not only for stand-alone training, but also for embedded training, team training, and mission rehearsal.
Brief Biography:
LT Joseph Cohn is a designated
Aerospace Psychologist. He received his PhD in Neuroscience from