STO-Activities: (no title)
Activity title:
Common Framework for the assessment of XR technologies for use in Training and Education
Activity Reference:
MSG-206
Panel:
MSG
Security Classification:
PUBLIC RELEASE
Status:
Active
Activity type:
RTG
Start date:
2023-02-02T00:00:00Z
Actual End date:
2026-02-02T00:00:00Z
Keywords:
Augmented Reality, Education, Effectiveness, Evidence, Training, Virtual Reality, XR
Background:
The commercial sector is developing key technologies and applications that have the potential for cost-effective adaptation for defence exploitation and use in modelling and simulation (M&S) applications such as defence planning, training, operations and capabilities development.
Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are increasingly popular immersive technologies that offer a novel user experience incorporating virtual or simulated elements. Collectively known as XR, these technologies offer potential benefits for defence training and education (T&E). Within XR training can take place with the appropriate physical, visual and cognitive fidelity while the cost of training equipment and other personnel costs are, potentially, much reduced. XR can provide access to training opportunities that are hard/dangerous/difficult to replicate live, or through providing access to specialized information enhancing the real world (e.g. AR overlaying schematics onto a real world piece of machinery, or allowing a remote expert to guide and collaborate). This can also have the effect of reducing training time.
The NMSG has recognised the importance of (low-cost) commercial technologies and addressed its use in a series of successful workshops to allow participants to develop a shared understanding of the issues and opportunities. While there are strong indications that XR could provide the defence T&E community with an effective and efficient training tool, the effectiveness of XR technologies and their readiness for wide-scale use must be understood to ensure benefit before it can be recommended for exploitation.
The UK MOD through Dstl, has developed an approach to identify the existing and future state of XR technologies and their potential effectiveness to deliver future T&E. This research has identified the current state of research relating to effectiveness of XR for Training and Education (XR4TE) and captured this in a Portfolio of Evidence (XR4TE PoE).
MSG-ET-052 “Common Framework for the assessment of XR technologies for use in Training and Education” enabled team members to access the UK XR4TE approach and assess its utility for member nations. It was unanimously agreed to have potential value to NATO, and the ET recommended an RTG be proposed to develop a Pan-NATO Portfolio and Online Portal to be trialed and evaluated.
Objectives:
The overall objective of this RTG is to provide a focus for NMSG XR exploitation for defence amongst the NMSG community. It will seek to create a NATO version of the UK XR4TE POE for all members to use, updating the contents and criteria in line with the teams assessment and recommendations.
This Research Task Group seeks to:
a. Develop a shared approach to assessing the benefits and alignment of XR to training objectives
b. Build a Portfolio of evidence in support of XR assessment
c. Identify common problems/opportunities in XR exploitation and devise a common research agenda
d. Share knowledge, such as examples of Best Practice; useful indices for effectiveness; Assessment methodologies etc. between members
e. Burden share the Creation a NATO Evidence Repository accessible by all members
f. Accelerate NATO members understanding, appropriate selection of XR technologies and effective use of XR
g. Generate Guidance and Support documents relating to XR exploitation
Topics:
a. Identifying current and future research on this topic across member nations
b. XR Technologies for use in Training and Education (T&E)
c. Assessment of XR Technologies for use in T&E
d. Training integration with Technology
e. Technology for T&E
f. XR Cyber Sickness
g. XR Fidelity – what and level to achieve desired training effect
h. How use it – pedagogical methods
i. Gender based analysis of XR use
Contact:
Open2Partners:
Title:
Created at 23/05/2022 18:00 by System Account
Last modified at 17/05/2024 00:00 by System Account
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