SBIR-STTR Award

This proposal applies experience gained developing Measures of Proficiency for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and cognitive task analysis (CTA) techniques to develop multi-media diagnostic tools for team training. Phase I will result in full cognitive and team process analyses of teams performing mission tasks in Anti-Submarine Warfare in a simulator. A key facet of these analyses will be development of an expert rules list and comparison of novice and expert behaviors in both knowledge representation and communications. Diagnostic tests fro declarative knowledge and in-situ diagnostic survey instruments will be produced to determine the rule-based procedures used by teams conducting ASW. Performance measures and methodology developed for resource analysis of proficiency, adopted from the FY96/97 ASW Measures of Proficiency study funded by CINCPACFLT, will be used to benchmark team performance using the 14A12 ASW Team Trainer at Fleet ASW Training Center, San Diego, CA. Eight to ten shipboard ASW teams will be used as test subjects for the research as they participate in the Single Ship ASW Course (CIN K-2E-4634), a two-week course of instruction comprised of classroom and simulator training. Phase II will develop and test prototype multi-media technology application based upon diagnostic clues provided by the phase I analyses. Validation of diagnostic procedures will be conducted in Phase II using ASW Measures of Proficiency for comparative analysis of diagnostic effectiveness.

Benefits:
it will enable targeted training interventions for shipboard teams and Immediate use of the tools could be expected by the Afloat Training Groups and shipboard training teams, as well as submarine and aviation training activities. The cognitive-based methodology and resultant tools could be easily adapted for non-military use with any team-oriented system. Diagnostic tools and procedures can be developed for government and commercial applications such as for police and fire departments, NFL football teams, commercial aircraft flight crews, Emergency Medical Response Teams (EMRT), air traffic controllers, and power plant operators.

Keywords:
performance cognitive diagnostic tool decision-making process-based multi-media team-training

TRACE, which stands for Training Cognitive Excellence is a methodology and a computer-aided team training diagnostic system, designed to quickly identify and debrief discrepant areas of team performance, explore the probable causes and recommend suggested training solutions. A proposal option features speech recognition, using the rule-based methodology, to act as an automatic data capture agent. Phase II objectives are to further develop and refine the methodology initiated in Phase I, develop a multi-media tool set capable of data collection, evaluation, diagnosis and feedback, and to provide and automated data collection agent using rule-based speech recognition technology. Phase II will take and test the methodology at sea. TRACE incorporated the methodology and information technology advanced for the dynamic capture and playback of audio, video displays, and plots in time-linked and geographically synchronized three dimensional (3D) active-color displays. TRACE will also contain interactive tutorials on cognitive test analysis, team process analysis and methodology for application to other types of teams. Electronic forms for performance measurement, team dimensional measurement and process evaluation are included on a laptop-sized personal computer. Other hardware and software features include infrared (IR) and LAN/WAN capture technologies.

Benefits:
There is immediate utility for a menu of recommended or targeted training interventions for individuals that can be accessed by instructor/observers during scenario-based modeling and simulation training of shipboard teams, submarine attack centers, IUSS watch teams and ASW aircrews. TRACE has direct application to aid: Afloat Training Group (ATG) personnel and shipboard Combat System Training Teams (CSTT) when using Battle Force Tactical Training (BFTT), aircrew instructors in observing Weapon System Trainer (WTS) and other simulator training events. TRACE methodology and software can be easily adapted for use in numerous commercial training applications. For example a SWAT team, commercial air crew training, commercial ship handling/piloting team, fire-fighting and rescue or Emergency Medical Response Team (EMRT), all have direct applications of these cognitive principles for diagnostic assessment and training management.

Keywords:
Diagnostic Rules-based Training Multi-media Cognitive Teams Performance Tool