Training Dismounted Soldiers in Virtual Environments

Book excerpt: "For this report, research was conducted to investigate the suitability of virtual environments (VE) for individual combatant training. The behaviors required by selected Dismounted Infantry and Special Operations Forces missions were linked to estimates of the availability of VE technology to support their performance. A baseline research plan was then developed as a series of vignettes in which research participants would perform the activities in clusters with similar technology demands and performance characteristics. Subsequent experiments and demonstrations were proposed to combine the activities into complete Army Training and Evaluation Program tasks. Functional requirements for a VE testbed were identified, and possible hardware and software elements were defined. No missions or tasks can be fully supported by VE at this time, but most can be partially supported. This report provides a link between dismounted soldier tasks and estimates of the VE characteristics required to support their simulated execution and training. This information will be useful in making decisions about acquisition of or investment in the development of VE technology to support dismounted combatant training. Virtual environments, Dismounted combatants, Virtual reality, Human performance, Behavioral requirements, Training"--DTIC.