SIMULATIONBASED ACQUISITION OF SOFTWARE FOR THE DISMOUNTED LAND WARRIOR SOLDIER

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SIMULATION-BASED ACQUISITION OF SOFTWARE FOR
THE DISMOUNTED LAND WARRIOR SOLDIER

• By
• Major James Illingworth

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Agenda

• Introduction Background
• Focus of Project
• Evaluation Procedures
• User Jury Findings
• Key Points Recommendations

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Introduction Background

• Land Warrior (LW) Combat System
• Dismounted Simulation Acquisition System (DSAS)
• Simulation using modified COTS software
• Combination of two applications.
• Provided an acquisition opportunity
• Hardware still being developed
• Test software interface and functionality.

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Focus of Project

• Provide platform to evaluate LW interface
• Must replicate the functionality of LW system
• Rapid replacement of interface upon modification
  (Plug and Play)

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Evaluation Procedures

• Utilize Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in a User
  Jury
• Create Testing Agenda
• Look and Feel
• Ease of Use
• Functionality
• Evaluation of Feedback
• Recode interface
• Retest

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User Jury Goals

• The goals of the User Jury was to provide
  feedback on
• New Land Warrior screen development
• Use of simulations as a training tool and
• Gather general ideas for future Land Warrior
  development.

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Survey Sample Group Statistics

• Three main groups
• Rangers
• National Guard and
• Small Group Instructors.
• General range of Army experience.
• PV2 to SFC CPT-MAJ
• General range of computer experience.
• Novice to Advanced User

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Survey Sample Group Statistics
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User Jury Findings Examples

• On the Maps Screen
• Include grid reference
• Declination diagram
• Datum and contour interval
• On the Messages
• Data included that is not needed below PLT level
• Must have its own window at the Main menu level

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User Jury Additional Findings

• Click and Drag functions common to Windows
  applications should be used in creating overlays.
• The software used in the simulation should be the
  same as the operational equipment (if possible).
  If not, then it must react/look the same.
• Input devices (cost of original equipment versus
  surrogate equipment).

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Key Points Recommendations

• Key Points of Presentation
• Utilize SBA when presented with opportunity
• Focus the Testing Agenda on all aspects
• Utilize the SMEs from all fields.
• Recommendations
• Ensure SBA saves the time/cost/resources
• Document changes made in evaluation cycle.

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Questions?
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What is Land Warrior?
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Land Warrior Delta Force Applications
LW App
DF App
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Look and Feel
Visual Queueing
Mode Manipulation
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Ease of Use
Click or Tab to bring up desired menu.
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Functionality
Example Sent messages that are undeliverable
What happens?
Functionality of software Behind the Interface
results