uSim: Collaborative Simulation Builder for Safety Instructors

描述(由申请人提供)：虚拟模拟是一种有效的教学方法，可帮助响应者在现场发挥作用：以至于相当大比例的州消防局长正在采用计算机模拟作为事故指挥培训的基础。向教员提供预先制作的模拟场景的第一手努力导致了强烈的需求和鼓励，每月持续访问数千次。然而，尽管当今世界连接着互联网，但由于可用开发工具的限制，模拟创建仍然是一项昂贵、耗时、孤立和离线的工作。拟议中的USIM项目将改变游戏规则。设想一个网站，允许教师协作创建场景，或选择现有场景并更改图片和危险以反映当地情况，或以新的方式扩展。此外，可以像共享YouTube视频一样轻松地访问和共享这些模拟。该平台将使教师能够在实时和虚拟教室中利用模拟的优势，同时通过协作大幅减少开发时间。拟议的方法利用了该团队在模拟工具开发和主题经验方面的丰富专业知识，开创并运营了一个市场领先的获奖安全培训平台。第一阶段的研究目标是：(1)开发一个基于网络的存储库和集成的构建器应用程序，用于创建和查看虚拟模拟；(2)使成员教员能够通过支持协作场景开发的基于许可的创作机制来适应、本地化和扩展现有的模拟；以及(3)创建示例消防和危险源场景。第一阶段将通过该团队在消防市场的现有吸引力进行初步商业化，第二阶段的研究将扩展协作和部署功能，以及在其他安全培训领域进行内容开发。 该应用程序的优先级评分级别为28。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Virtual simulations are an effective instructional methodology for preparing responders to function in the field: so much so that a large percentage of State Fire Directors are in the process of adopting computer simulation as the basis for incident command training. First-hand efforts to provide pre-made simulation scenarios to instructors have resulted in strong demand and encouragement, accessed consistently many thousands of times per month. In spite of today's Internet-connected world, however, simulation creation remains an expensive, time- consuming, isolated, and offline endeavor due to limitations of the available development tools. The proposed project, uSim, is a game-changer. Imagine a web site that permits instructors collaboratively to create a scenario, or select an existing scenario and change the pictures and hazards to reflect local conditions, or extend in new ways. Furthermore, the simulations can be accessed and shared as easily as sharing a YouTube video. The platform will enable instructors to exploit the benefits of simulation in the live and virtual classroom while dramatically reducing development time through collaboration. The proposed approach takes advantage of the team's substantial expertise with simulation tool development and subject- matter experience, having pioneered and operated a market-leading, award-winning platform for safety training. The Phase I research aims are to: (1) develop a web-based repository and integrated builder application for creating and viewing virtual simulations; (2) enable member instructors to adapt, localize, and extend existing simulations via a permission-based authoring mechanism that supports collaborative scenario development; and (3) create example Fire Service and HazMat scenarios. Initial commercialization will follow Phase I through the team's existing traction in the Fire Service market, with Phase II research extending collaborative and deployment features, as well as content development throughout other safety training domains. The application is rated at a priority score level of 28.