Human Interaction within a Virtual Environment for Shipboard Training.
Abstract
The problem addressed by this research is that the existing Damage Control Virtual Environment Trainer (DC VET) simulator is deficient in the capability of presenting information about the environment. First, it lacks facilities for explaining the functions of engineroom equipment such as; boilers, pumps, gauges, switches and valves. Second, it lacks a facility to instruct users by a 'Virtual Instructor/Guide'. The approach taken was to refine the DC VET simulator and increase its immersive interactive shipboard training capability. This was accomplished using the Jack Motion Library to create articulated human-form entities. Next, scripted actions of a human-form instructor/guide, combined with audio feedback in the form of sound effects and digitized speech via hyper-text links, instruct the novice user. The result of this thesis was the implementation of a virtual ship model where networked users are represented as articulated humans who can see and hear engineering casualties. Actions of an instructor/guide may be scripted by a non-programmer. Using scripts DC VET has the ability to teach a novice the basic functions of boilers, pumps, gauges, switches and valves. Users can also interact with other networked users and discover functions of boilers and pumps in the engineroom by tagging the equipment. It is possible for the novice sailor to learn basic functions of engineering equipment before arriving at his ship.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA304275
Entities
People
- James E. O'byrne
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School