Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Video games are continuing to draw attention as possible Human Performance Improvement technologies that young people will be drawn to. Roger Smith highlights how game technologies have already and are poised to disrupt the military simulation. Further, Smith identifies five forces behind the adoption of game technology by diverse industries. One of these forces is social acceptance. Through two case studies, this research considers the contribution of two video games toward improving human performance on two different tasks as well as within two different social-cultural groups – officers and enlisted. Data is collected and analyzed on control and experimental groups to evaluate the performance difference for these tasks between traditional training approaches and various implementations of video games. In addition, data on the use and expectations about video games is collected from two social cultural groups – college educated military officers and high school educated enlisted soldiers – and analyzed to identify differences in acceptance of video games as technology for serious Human Performance Improvement.

Keywords

Serious games officers enlisted attitudes

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

[1] Macedonia, M.

“Games Soldiers Play,”

IEEE Spectrum, March 2002, pp 32–37.

[2] Harmon, S.Y. , and Youngblood, S. M.

“A Proposed Model for Simulation Validation Process Maturity,”

The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, Vol. 2, No. 4, 2005, 179–190.

[3] Hofmann, M.

“On the Complexity of Parameter Calibration in Simulation Models,”

The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, Vol. 2, No. 4, 2005, 217–226.

[4] Logan, R. W. , Nitta, C.K. , and Chidester, S.K.

“Risk Reduction as the Product of Model Assessed Reliability, Confidence, and Consequence,”

The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, Vol. 2, No. 4, 2005, 191–208.

[5] Urlocker, M. , and Smith, R. , “How the US Army Got Game,” Strategy and Innovation, January – February, Vol. 5, Num. 1, 2007, 6–9.

[6] Smith, Roger.

“Technology Disruption in the Simulation Industry,”

The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, Vol. 3, Issue 1, 2006, 1–10.

[7] Zyda, M. , Hiles, J. , Mayberry, A. , Wardynski, C. , Capps, M. , Osborn, B. , Shilling, R. , Robaszewski, M. , and Davis, M. ”Entertainment R&D for Defense,” IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, January/February, 2003, 28–36.

[8] Proctor, M. D. , Curley, J. , and Williams, W. C. Jr.

“Interoperable Training through a Simulation Game,”

European Simulation Interoperability Workshop, June 2002.

[9] Proctor, M. D. , Panko, M. , and Donovan, S. , “Considerations for Training Team Situation Awareness and Task Performance through PC-Gamer Simulated Multi-Ship Helicopter Operations,” International Journal of Aviation Psychology, Vol. 14, Num. 2, 2004, 191–205.

10.

[10] Proctor, Michael D. , and Woodman, Michael , “Training ‘Shoot House’ Tactics using a Game,” The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, Technology, Volume 4, Number 1, 2007, 55–63.

11.

[11] Proctor, Michael D. , Bauer, M. , and Lucario, T. , “Helicopter Flight Training through Serious Aviation Gaming,” The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, Technology, Volume 4, Number 3, 2007

12.

[12] Smith, Roger. “Five Forces of Game Technology Adoption in Military Simulation,” SimTecT. Brisbane, Australia, 2007.

13.

[13] Halbfinger, D. M. , and Holmes, S. A.

“Military Mirrors Working-Class America,”

The New York Times, March 30, 2003.

14.

[14] Butler, J. S. (1992, September) “Affirmative Action in the Military,” Annuals American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 523, 196–206.

15.

[15] Morris, C.S. , Hancock, P.A. , and Shirkey, E.C. , “Motivational Effects of adding Context Relevant Stress in PC-Based Game Training,” Military Psychology, 16 (1), 2004, 135–147.

16.

[16] Pike, W. , and Wansbury, Timothy . “IOBC-RDT Project replicates live fire for IOBC students.” RDECOM Magazine: 2005, 23–24.

17.

[17] Ray, D.P.

“Every Soldier is a Sensor Simulation: virtual simulation using game technology.”

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, March 2005.

18.

[18] Morrison, P. , and Barlow, M. (2004) “Child's Play? Coercing a COTS Game into a Military Experimentation Tool”. Sim Tec T, Canberra, AUS.

Are Officers More Reticent of Games for Serious Training than Enlisted Soldiers?

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References