An application enabling trainers to rapidly generate, customize and manage online

描述（由申请人提供）：项目摘要：除前五行外，项目摘要包含专有/特权信息，Ramloll博士要求不得向政府以外的人员发布，除非用于审查和评估目的。（下文第30段行数= 30）鉴于越来越多的研究结果报告了使用多用户虚拟学习环境（多用户虚拟学习环境）支持应急准备培训的好处，我们预计将会更多地使用多用户虚拟学习环境来支持危害物质意识和危害防护课程的虚拟培训练习。我们最重要的策略是实现一种方法，使培训师能够授权，这样他们就不需要求助于程序员或设计师来设置他们的虚拟培训练习。我们设计并实现了一个虚拟运动场景创作和控制应用程序，供教练在多人3D虚拟现实平台中使用。该应用程序有三个主要功能：(1)它将允许培训师通过点和点击操作创建一个交互式3D虚拟立体模型应用程序，(2)它将使培训师能够生成一个身临其境的3D和适当缩放的立体模型所描述的场景版本，(3)它将提供一个直观的用户界面来控制事件和缩放对象在身临其境的3D虚拟学习环境中的行为。我们为在给定的时间和预算限制下实施这种高度创新的方法做好了独特的准备，因为我们现有的广泛的3D交互式应急准备虚拟内容库和我们内部开发的软件基础设施将支持拟议的应用程序。在该项目的第一阶段，要实现的附加功能包括使应用程序能够生成放大版的立体模型，以生成MUVLE。我们的实现还将允许立体模型上的每个对象作为MUVLE中相应缩放版本的控制点。培训师对立体模型对象所做的任何更改，例如，通过菜单选择更改其位置或配置其行为，都将反映在其缩放对应的对象中。这种技术有效地将3D交互立体模型变成了一种直观的控制

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project summary: The project summary with the exception of the first five lines contains proprietary/privileged information that Dr. Ramloll requests not be released to persons outside the Government, unless for purposes of review and evaluation. (Number of lines in paragraph below = 30) Given the growing body of research results reporting the benefits of using multiuser virtual learning environments (MUVLEs) to support emergency preparedness training, we expect that there will be an increase in the use of MUVLEs to support virtual training exercises for Hazmat Awareness and HAZWOPER courses. Our overriding strategy is to implement an approach that will empower trainers so that they do not need to have recourse to programmers or designers to set up their virtual training exercises. We design and implement a virtual exercise scenario authoring and control application for trainers to use within a multiplayer 3D virtual reality platform. This application has three main functionalities: (1) It will allow trainers to create through point and click operations an interacive 3D virtual diorama application, (2) It will enable trainers to generate an immersive 3D and appropriately scaled up version of the scene described by the diorama and (3) it will provide an intuitive user interface to control events and the behavior of scaled up objects in the immersive 3D virtual learning environment. We are uniquely prepared to implement this highly innovative approach under the given time and budget constraints because of our existing extensive library of 3D interactive emergency preparedness virtual content and our in house developed software infrastructure that will underpin the proposed application. During phase I of this project, the additional functionalities to be implemented include enabling the application to generate a scaled up version of the diorama to produce a MUVLE. Our implementation will also allow every object on the diorama to act as a control point for its corresponding scaled up version in the MUVLE. Any changes made to the diorama objects by the trainer, for example, changing its location or configuring its behavior through menu selections will be reflected in their scaled up counterparts. This technique effectively turns the 3D interactive diorama into an intuitive control station that could be used by an exercise facilitator or a group of trainers. Since the target user for our application are trainers, for the Phase I of this project, our core evaluation aim is to fid out if it actually empowers trainers. Our research questions are: do they find it easier to create or customize their virtual exercise environment using our application? Can they control or manage events and object behaviors in the virtual environment easily and intuitively? Our application evaluation approach will include Think Aloud studies and subjective work load assessments using the NASA Task Load Index. Our monetizing plan involves making our multiuser virtual learning environment shell (that is the virtual environment platform without any content) and our content generation and management application available as a hosted pay per use service. We will segment our extensive library of virtual 3D content into subject specific content packs to be sold separately and made available in a format that can be imported directly into the content generation and management application. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Project Narrative Opportunities for exercises and simulations in multiuser 3D virtual learning environments (MUVLEs) will further augment the effectiveness of traditional E-learning, such as online webinars or instructional multi-media, which has already been shown to provide a valid alternative to face-to-face classroom training. Our goal is to provide trainers for Hazmat Awareness or HAZWOPER courses in Idaho with an application that will allow them to generate MUVLEs to support their instructional activities without needing to have recourse to a dedicated team of designers and programmers or additional extensive training in domains not relevant to their core professional skills. The application we propose will also function as a live control station within the virtual environment to manage in real time 3D content location and behaviors in the MUVLE while an exercise is in progress.