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，用于准备响应者在现场发挥作用：以至于很大一部分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。第一手的努力，提供预先制作的模拟场景，以教官已经导致了强烈的需求和鼓励，访问一致数千次，每月。然而，尽管当今的互联网连接的世界，由于可用开发工具的限制，模拟创建仍然是昂贵的、耗时的、孤立的和离线的奋进。拟议中的项目uSim是一个改变游戏规则的项目。想象一下，一个网站，允许教师合作创建一个场景，或选择一个现有的场景，并改变图片和危险，以反映当地条件，或以新的方式扩展。此外，模拟可以像分享YouTube视频一样轻松访问和分享。该平台将使教师能够在现场和虚拟教室中利用模拟的好处，同时通过协作大大减少开发时间。所提出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屡获殊荣的安全培训平台。第一阶段的研究目标是：（1）开发一个基于Web的存储库和集成的构建器应用程序，用于创建和查看虚拟仿真;（2）使成员教师能够通过基于许可的创作机制来适应，本地化和扩展现有的仿真，支持协作场景开发;（3）创建示例消防和危险品场景。最初的商业化将遵循第一阶段，通过该团队在消防服务市场的现有牵引力，第二阶段的研究扩展了协作和部署功能，以及在其他安全培训领域的内容开发。 该申请的优先级评分为28分。

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.