DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

Troops Don’t Always Benefit From ‘Virtual Reality’ Training

6/1/2008
By Sandra I. Erwin

Virtual reality is not always the best choice for military training, according to a recent government study. “VR simulators are usually located in comfortable environments, with air conditioning to cool computer equipment, so the operators never get tired from running with a large backpack, or wet and cold, or otherwise physically stressed as they would in a real-world training exercise,” says Clay Wilson, an analyst at the Congressional Research Service. But VR offers several advantages, he says. The mission can be repeated numerous times; scenarios can be simulated without the risk of injury to trainees; and real military equipment is not used, so costs for equipment maintenance and fuel are eliminated.

Please email your comments to SErwin@ndia.org

Topics: Simulation Modeling Wargaming and Training, ComputerBased Training, Videogames

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