TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-205 Aviation Training

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate innovative software inclusive of cognitively optimized design solutions and guidelines for display of highly complex performance assessment data in the Common Operating Picture (COP) to assist instructors in trainee performance assessment in Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training events.

DESCRIPTION: Knowledge optimized displays of information are required to easily and rapidly digest the diverse streams of information inherent to large-scale, LVC distributed simulation-based training events. Instructional environment management and performance assessment is dependent on rapid access to shared high quality knowledge, and the synchronizing, de-biasing and integration of diverse data types into shared knowledge vehicles merging into a knowledge rich COP. Innovative approaches to development of algorithms and interface designs for graphic user interfaces are sought.

The goal is to develop software to enable and sustain readiness, fitness and endurance of individuals engaged in knowledge management and decision making involving any form of Human Computer Interaction (HCI). Proposed solutions should maintain a COP across the various military echelons and diverse platforms represented in LVC training events. This development should be built upon a sound theoretical framework based in the cognitive sciences and computer engineering. Proposed designs should minimize cognitive overload by capturing complex information and transforming it into organized knowledge structures easily consumed by instructors. Moreover, this technology is expected to be ready and demonstrable for information integration at the team level. Solutions should be highly intuitive to human operators and users, and require minimal to no on-the-job training.

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of using knowledge optimized displays of information in instruction in to represent complex data sets and enhance training effectiveness. Provide a proposed concept of operations for the prototype to be developed in Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate HCI-based prototype in an information dense distributed team decision making environment across dissimilar positions to validate the efficacy of this approach in a simulation-based training environment. Develop a base object model to define data required to populate GUI knowledge structures.

PHASE III: Develop guidelines for extension of this technology to team knowledge displays (repositories and displays) and harden the architecture of the Phase II prototype for transition. Transition the technology to the LVC training environment.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This technology could be applied in any industrial-organizational setting that requires the integration of masses of data to support distributed team decision making. This technology could also be extended to modality disabled communities (visually or auditorily impaired individuals, including veterans) to enhance accessibility.

REFERENCES:
1. Adams, R. (2006). Decision and stress: cognition and e-accessibility in the information workplace. Universal Access in the Information Society, 5, 363-379.

2. Bahr, G. S., Balaban, C., Milanova, M. & Choe, H. (2007). Nonverbally Smart User Interfaces: Postural and Facial Expression Data in Human Computer Interaction. In C. Stephanidis (Ed.), Universal Access in HCI, Part II, HCII 2007, LNCS 4555, 740�749. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.

3. Wheeler Atkinson, B., Bennett, T., Bahr, G. S. & Walwanis Nelson, M. M. (2007). Multiple Heuristics Evaluation Table (MHET): Software Development and Usability Analysis Heuristics Table. In C. Stephanidis (Ed.), Universal Access in HCI, Part I, HCII 2007, LNCS 4554, 563�572. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.

KEYWORDS: Knowledge; Graphic User Interface; Display Design; Human Computer Interaction; Command and Control; Display Algorithms

TPOC: (407)380-4749
2nd TPOC: (407)380-4631