Evaluation of Wearable Simulation Interface for Military Training

Abstract

Objective: This research evaluated the training effectiveness of a novel simulation interface, a wearable computer integrated into a soldier's load-bearing equipment.Background: Military teams often use game-based simulators on desktop computers to train squad-level procedures. A wearable computer interface that mimics the soldier's equipment was expected to provide better training through increased realism and immersion.Method: A heuristic usability evaluation and two experiments were conducted. Eight evaluators interacted with both wearable and desktop interfaces and completed a usability survey. The first experiment compared the training retention of the wearable interface with a desktop simulator and interactive training video. The second experiment compared the training transfer of the wearable and desktop simulators with a live training environment.Results: Results indicated the wearable interface was more difficult to use and elicited stronger symptoms of simulator sickness. There was no significant difference in training retention between the wearable, desktop, or interactive video training methods. The live training used in the second experiment provided superior training transfer than the simulator conditions, with no difference between the desktop and wearable.Conclusion: The wearable simulator interface did not provide better training than the desktop computer interface. It also had poorer usability and caused worse simulator sickness. Therefore, it was a less effective training tool.Application: This research illustrates the importance of conducting empirical evaluations of novel training technologies. New and innovative technologies are always coveted by users, but new does not always guarantee improvement.

Visual modality research in virtual and mixed reality simulation

“…In Taylor and Barnett’s capstone report 121 of their three previous studies/experiments of a prototypical wearable simulation for dismounted soldiers, the authors conclude that the wearable simulation did not provide any statistically significant training benefits when compared to a traditional desktop computer simulation. The major variable in the two conditions was the visual modality employed by the two simulation systems.…”

Make it usable: Highlighting the importance of improving the intuitiveness and usability of a computer-based training simulation

“…While these two approaches overlap in many design-related areas, each adds some unique design concepts that are not directly expressed in the other. The availability of multiple usability heuristics has allowed for successful UI evaluations and improvements for numerous products in countless domains, such as special and age-related population usability (Arnhold, Quade, and Kirch 2014), game-based patient learning tools (Brown-Johnson, Berrean, and Cataldo 2015), wearable military training systems (Taylor and Barnett 2013), and e-learning training for new employees (Chang 2011).…”

Feature Extraction of Human Motion Video Based on Virtual Reality Technology

“…"Video-image" face recognition refers to the use of face video as input (query) to use the still image face database for recognition or verification [9]. Since most of the existing face databases are still image face databases, how to make full use of facial information in the video for better face recognition is an urgent problem to be solved at this stage [10,11]. The traditional methods for solving such problems can be divided into two categories: one type of method tracks the face in the input video, finds the face image that meets certain rules (such as size, pose, clarity, etc.…”