Researchers are developing interactive training technologies for the military that immerse soldiers in realistic sounds and sensations of battle. In one project, called Flatworld, a computer-simulated enemy even casts a shadow.
“Shadows might seem like a frill,” says William R. Swartout, director of technology at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California. “But people who do these types of staging exercises say that you should always watch for shadows. You can see the shadow before you see the person. If you just see the person and he’s got a gun, it’s too late.”
Professors with an eye to the future of the classroom should take note: Many technologies developed for the military have found their way into civilian use, with the Internet being perhaps the most prominent example. See the full article in this week’s Chronicle.
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