Embedded Training for Future Force Warriors: An Assessment of Wearable Virtual Simulators

Abstract : Embedded virtual simulation has the potential to provide more realistic and effective training for dismounted Soldiers, particularly in operations in urban areas, and in the operations and tactics, techniques and procedures for using Future Force systems. This paper describes an assessment of wearable virtual simulators (WSs) for Infantry Soldiers. The assessment focused on the capabilities and limitations of the WSs as the were used by Soldiers in a realistic training situation: the capability to support the performance of Soldier tasks, side effects, and human interface issues. Three vendors developed different WSs. Each was based on the Quantum 3D Thermite wearable computer, but the vendors used different software and interface hardware.