The Visualization Training Assistant Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-019 Topic Title: The Visualization Training Assistant Proposal No.: N051-019-0848 Firm: Intelligent Automation, Inc. 15400 Calhoun Drive Suite 400 Rockville, Maryland 20855 Contact: Jaqueline Haynes Phone: (301) 294-5260 Web Site: www.i-a-i.com Abstract: As computer capabilities to generate visualization grow and research-based findings on instructionally effective visualizations grow, designers of instruction will find it difficult to keep up with best practices in applying appropriate and effective visualization techniques. Hence, the Visualization Training Assistant (VisTrAs) will be developed by Intelligent Automation Inc. to (a) deliver guidance in creating effective visualizations for training, (b) provide libraries of components with the capability to present effective visualizations, and (c) assist in embedding the objects in instruction using common instructional authorware. VisTrAs will use a case-based reasoning shell to provide guidance. We will populate the knowledge base for the reasoning tool with best practices derived from a literature review and guided by a panel of experts with diverse backgrounds. The interface will be extensively tested for use by instructional designers; we will use those findings to ensure that our product meets users' needs and expectations. We will demonstrate that objects with effective visualization methods can be placed in a library, and then extracted and inserted into instruction by instructional designers using common authorware. Benefits: VisTrAs will assist designers of instruction in making choices about how to use visualizations in training. VisTrAs will provide support to designers who have neither the time nor the inclination to stay current on best practices in using visualization in training, or in the availability of types of visualizations. VisTrAs will give advice about what type of visualizations should be used in various kinds of instruction, and it will support the use of those visualizations by providing libraries of objects that are associated with visualizations, and guidance in embedding those objects with their visualizations in instruction. VisTrAs will be integrated with other tools that IAI has built that use case-based reasoning shells to provide advice about instructional design. These other tools provide advice about general instructional design and tagging instructional objects with metadata that describe the objects using SCORM references. VisTrAs and its associated training assistants could be sold via an exclusive license to a company like Macromedia that would incorporate it into its products; it could be sold via a non-exclusive license to companies or organizations that often construct instruction with visualizations; or it could be sold on a "pay as you go" basis. Return