Enhanced Soldier-Computer Interaction and Communication

As the military rethinks its doctrine to significantly include the importance of information, new technologies that reflect this thinking must be studied and developed. The primary concern of this project is to define methods and technology to address the total soldier-computer interface. That, to evaluate, select and test current hands-free technologies useful for man-machine interface relative to virtual system software for interfacing all elements in the soldier-computer loop. The research effort will consist of a theoretical study of the system integration requirements along with component level experimentation with the devices and the virtual reality test software. Resulting from this research will be a plan for an improved soldier-computer interface and the identification of Phase II research required for advanced development. When applied to the Army's planning and command infrastructure it is expected that soldier and mission efficiency and robustness will improve as the result of improved interaction and communication.