Learning the Human Terrain

Changes in modern warfare are necessitating the provision of efficient and effective training tools for U.S. marines and soldiers. Current low-intensity military operations are multi-dimensional requiring new sociocultural communication skills. In this effort, we propose developing a serious game for training social and cultural communication skills. The serious game will incorporate performance and cognitive state assessment to ensure effective training. Specifically, this effort will be a joint development between Design Interactive and Applied Systems Intelligence, where Design Interactive will provide training and cognitive state assessment components, and Applied Systems Intelligence will provide social and cultural domain content. Phase 1 will develop a complete concept design for a sociocultural skills and communication training tool. There are several technical objectives associated with conducting this research: 1) determining targeted social and cultural communication skills, 2) identifying technology limitations and risks, 3) designing the performance and cognitive state monitoring components, and 4) incorporating an appropriate feedback system. The resulting concept in Phase 1 will form a foundation for building a serious game prototype in Phase 2, as well as establishing a foundation for several tools to be used in the military and commercial markets.