Abstract

Report developed under a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) program contract for topic A04-T002. The research reported here explored methods for training battlefield visualization through human-computer visualization. The objective was to determine whether an adaptive visualization system that strongly leverages current findings in cognitive and perceptual psychology and in situation awareness could be designed that would improve Army schoolhouse training. The research approach had three focal points. First, we reviewed the extant literature on perceptual and cognitive visualization and mixed-initiative interaction as related to military situation awareness and decision making. Second, we developed a company level Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) scenario to inform our inquiry. Third, we developed a limited capability visualization prototype to test core approach concepts. The work conducted during Phase I lays the foundation for a Phase II plan to develop a usable schoolhouse tool for training battlespace visualization and to test the utility of this tool in an experimental setting.