January 13, 2009
Thomas W. Mastaglio, PhD
Advanced Learning and Information Technology Research at MYMIC LLC
Abstract
MYMIC LLC is an advanced technology company providing technical services to government agencies and developing new capabilities to deliver training and analysis capabilities based on simulations, visualizations, and gaming technology. This talk will provide a short overview of current research and development initiatives at MYMIC and a more detailed description of a multi-player on-line gaming solution to training distributed teams, GaMeTT.
GaMeTT uses commercial of the shelf (COTS) software to develop and deliver a virtual world accessible using standard desktop computing technology via the world-wide web. The specific use case for which GaMeTT is being developed is the training of medical response teams which are activated and deployed in case of a major civil emergency or natural disaster. These teams are comprised of 30-100 members all highly qualified to perform their individual medical skills but have extremely limited opportunities to work or practice together prior to their deployment. GaMeTT will deliver a synchronous training event to team members using an immersive virtual environment within which each individual interacts with that environment and fellow team members via a realistic avatar representative of their physical appearance. This research explores the issues surrounding delivering effective learning using gaming technology plus it will develop a virtual-world based training environment which can be used to explore cognitive and training delivery issues, such as how to invoke stress in the players within a virtual world and how to most effectively present after event feedback, within the virtual world or using another modality.
Short-Bio
Dr. Thomas W. Mastaglio is the President and CEO of MYMIC LLC located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dr. Mastaglio served as the Executive Director of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center and Research Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Old Dominion University from November 1996 to June 2000. Dr. Mastaglio is a 1969 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He retired from the Army in 1991 and has worked in the defense industry as a senior engineer, program manager, and scientist. Dr. Mastaglio earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Colorado in Computer Science in 1990. His research interests include the application of artificial intelligence to improving human-computer interaction and learning, usability engineering, cognitive modeling, the development of large-scale enterprise models and simulations, and educational requirements for modeling and simulation. He has been an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Old Dominion University and an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Norfolk State University. Dr. Mastaglio has served as a member of the Army Science Board, a technology consultant to the Department of Defense Director of Research and Engineering, and as an Advisor to the Commonwealth of VirginiaÕs General Assembly Joint Commission On Technology and Science.
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