D2 TEAM-Sim to present at MODSIM World 2010

James Cimino, Director of Technology Innovation for D2 TEAM-Sim, will be giving two presentations at this year’s MODSIM World, to be held on October 13th – 15th in Hampton VA. MODSIM World is a unique multi-disciplinary international conference for the exchange of modeling and simulation knowledge, research and technology across industry, government and academia.

James will be giving two presentations on Wednesday afternoon as part of the Defense Applications of Serious Games & Virtual Worlds track. The Serious Games & Virtual Worlds Track, chaired by Dr. Benjamin Bell of CHI Systems, Inc., will explore all dimensions of serious games and virtual worlds, including those relating to the broader MODSIM World 2010 tracks. By exploring the applications, technologies and future directions of serious games and virtual worlds, this track intends to challenge traditional perspectives, cultivate new ideas, and foster dialogue focusing on how these capabilities can extend the reach of modeling and simulation.

The first presentation is entitled “Leveraging Gaming Technology to Deliver Effective Training”. The best way to engage a soldier is to present them with training content consistent with their learning preference. Blended Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI) can be used to teach soldiers what they need to do, how to do each step, and utilize a COTS game engine to actually practices the skills learned. Blended IMI provides an enjoyable experience for the soldier, thereby increasing retention rates and motivation while decreasing the time to subject mastery. And now mobile devices have emerged as an exciting new platform, literally placing the training into the soldier’s hands. During this presentation, James will discuss how we leveraged commercial game engine technology, tightly integrated with the Blended IMI, to train soldiers on both laptops and mobile devices. We will provide a recent case study of how this training is being utilized, benefits and student/instructor feedback. This session’s paper was also selected to be included as part of the proceedings for this year’s MODSIM World.

The second presentation James will deliver that afternoon is entitled “Leveraging M&S in Soft Skills Training for the DoD”. Soft skills, also called “people skills,” are typically hard to observe, quantify and measure. These skills have to do with how we relate to each other: communicating, listening, engaging in dialogue, giving feedback, cooperating as a team member, solving problems and resolving conflicts. Most of the soft skills training is scenario based, utilizing written or video-based scenarios, with limited or no branching, as well as quantitative feedback. This paper will outline a game-based approach to configurable, scenario-based, soft skills training. In this presentation, James will discuss the application of realistic visual behavior cues (e.g. body language, vocal inflection, facial expressions) and how these can benefit the learner. Using the concept of a “virtual vignette,” this presentation will show a prototype system intended to teach suicide prevention and provide qualitative feedback to the learner.

To learn more, or to register for MODSIM World 2010, go to: http://www.modsimworldconference.com/track_games.html#01

D2 TEAM-Sim: Selected as one of the 2010 Top Simulation and Training Companies by Military Training Technologies Magazine!

D2 TEAM-Sim is proud to announce that we have been selected as one of the 9th Annual Top Simulation and Training Companies by Military Training Technology magazine. This listing will be published in the September 2010 issue of Military Training Technology.

The MT2 Top Simulation & Training Companies is a listing of companies that have made a significant impact in the military training industry throughout the current fiscal year; whether it is in simulation, distributed learning, serious gaming, visual systems, embedded training, targets and ranges, database modeling or any other training component.

These companies’ products allow service men and women to train and rehearse for missions in theater, or to prepare for deployment at home station. An impartial panel selected the winners from a very competitive group. Companies were selected based on various criteria, which in part, included total military sales, innovation, and program effectiveness. The 2010 submissions were especially competitive.

D2 TEAM-Sim was selected for its work on “Launcher Dogs: March Order and Emplace”. “Launcher Dogs” is an interactive, self-remediating program to help soldiers learn how to setup the major end items of the Patriot air and missile defense system. It reinforces classroom training by allowing the soldier to study anywhere, anytime via the Internet and using a handheld device such as the Apple iPod touch, iPhone or iPad. It complements traditional training methods and allows for individual development needs.

The “Launcher Dogs” application is part of a larger interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) platform that is currently being evaluated by soldiers at Ft. Sill (Oklahoma). The SCORM-conformant solution utilizes COTS hardware and software. The IMI platform includes an avatar instructor, video, simulation, a self-assessment feature and more. The handheld device application was created by observing soldiers’ step-by-step procedures and tasks in setting up the Patriot system. The end result is a detailed, life-like simulation with text and audio instructions that guide a soldier through the tutorial.

By leveraging decades of commercial multimedia design and development expertise while simultaneously integrating COTS software and hardware, D2 TEAM-Sim continues to push the envelope by building cost-effective, web based and SCORM-conformant training solutions for the DoD. Our award-winning approach to developing engaging blended learning products continues to catch the eye of senior army leadership, setting the standard and raising the bar in terms of quality, effectiveness, value and usability. A privately held minority woman-owned small business, D2 TEAM-Sim prides itself on consistently delivering high production-value training, using cutting edge technology and by being laser-focused on budget and deliverables.

Military Training Technology magazine is published by KMI Media Group. KMI Media Group is the leading independent publisher of targeted information about military technologies and operations, focusing on information required by Congress to facilitate the acquisition process. With a sharp editorial focus coupled with pinpoint accuracy and depth of circulation, KMI Media Group is your competitive information advantage and offers the most powerful and cost-effective way to reach senior military and Department of Defense leadership.