Simulation and Visualization for Perceptual Skills Screening, Training and Operations

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the U. S. military faces an opponent that attacks by unconventional means such as improvised explosive devices and snipers. A key to insurgent success is to blend into the environment. Advanced observational skills can mitigate these insurgent tactics by detecting visual anomalies. The U. S. military trains warfighters in observational skills to detect visual anomalies associated with unconventional devices and tactics. We propose to update and extend this training as informed by current scientific research in visual anomaly detection. We will analyze and characterize typical visual anomalies, analyze current training techniques, develop metrics, and conduct an experiment to determine whether neurophysiological correlates of visual anomaly detection exist and may be used to enhance training or augment performance. We will document a framework for a simulation-based training tool to improve observational skills for visual anomaly detection, and produce a roadmap for development and transition of a simulation-based training tool.