HapMed: Application of Haptics for Combat Medic Training

Haptic interfaces are being designed to enhance immersive training opportunities in computer-based training environments. One potential application is the training of combat medics within realistic warfighting scenarios. The addition of haptic feedback can potentially enhance the perception of immersion, facilitate learning, and expand the breadth of skills that can be trained. However, while visual and auditory stimuli have long been effectively incorporated into immersive training environments, haptics stimulation has lagged behind, due in large part to factors such as cost and the immature state of haptics technologies. For this effort, CHI Systems, Inc. proposes to team with the University of Central Florida's Institute for Simulation and Training to investigate how best to use haptics to support the training of combat medic tasks. In Phase I, the project team will leverage and extend the extensive work performed by CHI Systems and IST in the areas of haptics training research and technology development to assess haptic technologies as they apply to training of 91W10 combat medic tasks. The analysis will result in the design of HapMed, an immersive computer-based training system envisioned to provide pedagogically sound training of combat medic tasks incorporating haptic feedback.