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Future command and control (C2) and air battle management (ABM) operations will undoubtedly be affected by the shift toward network-centric warfare (NCW), a concept of operations that relies upon a sophisticated information technology infrastructure comprising sensor, information, and engagement grids. It will be achieved through heightened shared situation awareness and real-time collaboration, which will require effective communication between coalition forces throughout the command chain. The present study provides an initial evaluation of communication effectiveness of persons from English-speaking countries with different dialects. In addition, an evaluation of collaborative interface technology for future ABM operations is presented. Together, these data provide an initial step in the characterization of communication challenges in future coalition operations and an assessment of the technologies that may be required to effectively share information and situation awareness in future ABM operations.English speakers not sharing the same dialect; (2) how effective will chat and messaging tools be given differences in slang and technical/military vernacular; (3) how should automated agents that speak to the user be designed -should they adapt to the dialect of the user; and (4) what impact will these communication challenges pose for technologies purported to enable time-critical information sharing and decision making? These surveys provide an initial look into some of the human factors, usability, and design challenges associated with communication effectiveness and collaboration technologies in future air battle management environments. Additional research addressing these issues is clearly warranted.

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In order for international corporations to establish a successful global Web presence, their Web sites must be designed to effectively communicate with culturally-diverse users. Employing a methodology that assesses the extent to which the intended meaning of interface elements (e.g., navigation, graphical elements, and site functionality) are understood by culturally-diverse users, international usability testing of a translated US corporate Web site was conducted in Brazil, France, Spain, and Germany. Participants included professionals from telecommunications, marketing research, and financial services sectors. Results indicated that the site's interface was language- and context-dependent and that it varied across cultures. Primary navigation categories were generally well understood across all cultures; however, the effectiveness of secondary, tertiary, and image-based navigation varied across cultures. Basic search functionality was effective, but advanced search features were less meaningful and culturally-dependent. In addition to presenting research outcomes, the effectiveness of this methodology for international interface evaluations is discussed.