Authoring branching storylines for training applications

Progress in the area of interactive training applications has led to the formulation of methodologies that have been successfully transitioned out of research labs and into the practices of commercial developers. This paper reviews the academic origins of a methodology for developing training applications that incorporate branching storylines to engage users in a first-person learn-by-doing experience, originally referred to as Outcome-Driven Simulations. Innovations and modifications to this methodology from the commercial sector are then reviewed, and the steps in this methodology are described, as implemented in current best practices. Finally, new research efforts based on this methodology are examined, including the introduction of natural language processing technology to enable human-computer conversations and the integration of branching storylines into real-time virtual reality environments. A prototype application to support leadership development within the U.S. Army that includes these advances is described.