Synthetic Language Interface Toolkit for Chat (SynChat)

ABSTRACT: The ability to access high-quality training anywhere and anytime continues to grow in importance due to the complex nature of operational team environments. Training simulations that use virtual agents that respond and behave like live teammates enhance training and help achieve the train as you fight objective without requiring a complete team of human participants. However, the domain-specific language and reasoning ability needed to make a virtual agent effective for training is challenging to construct. A solution is needed to simplify and accelerate the construction of natural language capable agents for training systems. Such a solution would help satisfy the overarching goal to improve the cost effectiveness of achieving the train as you fight objective when some team members are not available. TiER1 Performance Solutions is leading the SynChat: Synthetic Language Interface Toolkit for Chat research and development project. The goal is to develop a web-based suite of tools to support rapid development of agent models, and to define and implement a flexible communications interface built upon pervasive open protocols and deployed as a set of web services. This toolkit will simplify and accelerate the work of training system developers in integrating advanced language capabilities into training systems. BENEFIT: With the SynChat natural language toolkit, the U.S. Air Force will have the capability to develop and integrate natural language capabilities into training systems in a way that will be more affordable than todays development methods. More affordable development will permit the Air Force to apply these capabilities across a broader set of operational domains and allow more warfighters to benefit from these new training capabilities. The broader application of language capable constructive models will help address the training availability problem and will improve mission and combat readiness. The SynChat natural language toolkit will provide similar efficiency improvements for Army, Navy, Marine, and other non-Department of Defense government agencies.