Pacific Science & Engineering Group (PSE) proposes to design, develop, and demonstrate Sailor2Sailor (S2S) - a web application for novice content creators. The requirements for S2S are based on knowledge gained through users interactions, lessons learned and best practice in the knowledge creation domain, and findings from the training and cognitive science literature. The S2S user interface will be a wizard, with a design guided by human factors principles so it is effective, easy to understand, and use. In Phase I, PSE developed an initial prototype concept for S2S. For Phase II/Option, we will define and refine the S2S requirements and use them to inform new S2S use cases and mockups. We will develop metrics and test plans to assess the usability and utility of the S2S system as it evolves from the conceptual design into more mature prototypes. The final deliverable will be a Beta version of the tool that can be released to the Fleet. Once developed, S2S will be a powerful web application for sailors to rapidly capture and share practical, relevant knowledge. S2S will invigorate Navy training, augmenting more traditional schoolhouse and on the job training with highly specific multimedia content created by sailors for sailors.
Benefit: PSE is committed to commercialization, as reflected in our high company commercialization achievement index (CAI) score. In PSEs 34 years of continuous operation, it has built a history of commercializing and transitioning advanced concepts and services developed under SBIRs to an array of Government and commercial entities. PSE has worked in many diverse domains, from Government work primarily for Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, through commercial work for medical device manufacturers and the automated process control industry. For this SBIR, PSE is particularly well-positioned to transition and commercialize the output of this research both to the military/DoD Government sector and to non-Government commercial entities. PSE has substantial in-house marketing expertise. PSEs marketing success is evidenced by our proven track record of maintaining existing business and expanding business by offering new capabilities to existing clients and securing relationships with new clients. PSE has already performed activities in support of future transition of S2S to the Navy: (1) PSE has worked closely with PMW120 during the development of the S2S concept in Phase I, to ensure that the requirements, features and processes it supports meets their needs. PMW 120 has expressed interest and intent to support both a Phase I Option and Phase II of this SBIR and has written an enthusiastic letter of endorsement supporting a shared vision and an ongoing commitment to provide feedback and SMEs to support continued concept prototype development. (2) A program manager from the Submarine Learning Center has also expressed a willingness to provide SME feedback and facilitate a focus group at NUWC to further refine the prototype concept and design through SME feedback and iterative user testing. This is another potential target market for S2S in its transition from prototype to working training tool. (3) PSE is currently working with the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) and Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP) to develop personas, workflows, and visualizations to support training for and operating within denied and degraded environments (D2E) as part of the Fleet Training Technologies (FleeT2) effort. The content creation and knowledge sharing requirements and concepts developed for S2S are directly applicable to many of the FleeT2 technologies and can be transitioned to this effort. PSE has identified additional potential transition partners, with whom we have already established relationships with, including PEO-IWS5B and OPNAV N1B Fleet Introduction Team. The Navys Sailor 2025 Ready Relevant Learning initiative seeks to provide the right training, at the right time, and in the right way for sailors. Initially, S2S will be rolled out to a smaller segment of the Navy operational communities served by PEO C4Is PMW 120. Once we demonstrate its relevance to this subset of the Navy and that there is both need and potential for this training capability, it could be expanded Navy-wide. For all communities, S2S can provide both a means for continuing learning beyond formal channels and a mechanism for delivering on-the-job training when and where and to whom it is needed.
Keywords: increased performance, For sailors by sailors web application, Improved collaboration, Current local knowledge, Novice video content creation, Context-relevant decision aid, Knowledge capture and dissemination, Reduced inefficiencies and errors.
