Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

 

MMOG For Military Training

A Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) for the military has been proposed by Army game-designer Dr. Roger Smith.

"Potentially an MMOG could be created which adheres to the physical and behavioral reality of the world and provides an 'always on' environment in which to execute training, something like World of Warcraft, but focused on the military training customer," says Dr. Roger Smith.

This concept goes well beyond some of the military game advances we've seen before, like the America's Army Arcade Game, Defense Intelligence Agency Training Videogames and the Space War game for the Air Force.

The idea being put forward here is that the military can have a huge server farm (or set of them around the world) that would let any American soldier log on, and be immersed in any of a variety of training scenarios in a virtual reality world similar to that of Second Life and other such programs. The exercises could be entirely theater-specific; see the video below, which shows a Tactical Language Training session.


(Tactical Language Training system capabilities)

Trainees can rerun the same scenario over and over to see what happens by making different choices; the package that is shown above purports to teach over 2,000 Arabic words.

It is even possible that soldiers using the system could interact directly with human experts who are also logged into the system, by using digital avatars.

I can think of several science-fictional precursors to this idea. In The Dosadi Experiment, Frank Herbert's protagonists make use of a military and personality simulation program. I think that this kind of quick access to experts and information is also seen in A Matter for Men, a David Gerrold novel about alien invasion. William Gibson presents a realistic virtual meeting in a jungle in Idoru. I also kind of liked this virtual reality tea ceremony from Rim by Alexander Besher; it would be a great way to learn the customs of a foreign people.

It would be sort of weirdly cool if the US military could get together with terrorist groups to agree on standards and protocols; that way, troops and police officers could actually take on terrorists on their own virtual world turf. See this article on Codename 'Reynard' - Hunt Terrorists In Virtual Worlds regarding efforts to watch terrorists attempt to use virtual reality for their own ends.

From Virtual World for Future Army Training; thanks to Moira for the tip.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 7/31/2008)

Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.

| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |

Would you like to contribute a story tip? It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add it here.

Comment/Join discussion ( 4 )

Related News Stories - (" Warfare ")

'Warrior Suit' Combat Exoskeleton Project Still Alive
'Suited up, you look like a big steel gorilla.'

Sea Drones Attack Russian Fleet
'...autofreighters, and other self-piloting craft.' - Ray Naylor, 2022.

Slaughterbot AI KIller Quadcopter Drones
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.' - Neal Stephenson, 1995.

Russia Working On Military Exoskeletons
'...you look like a big steel gorilla...' - Robert Heinlein, 1959.

 

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Current News

RoboBallet The Dance Of Cooperative Robots
'...an integrated seven-unit robot team.'

Chrysalis Generation Ship to Alpha Centauri
'This was their world, their planet — this swift-traveling, yet seemingly moveless vessel.'

Alexa+ And Its AI Brain Improvements
'What's it do?' he asked. 'It amuses.'

Does CloneRobotics Offer A True Android?
Is this What Little Girls Are Made Of?

Brain Implant Is Able To Capture Your Inner Dialogue
'So you see, you can hide nothing from me.'

Are AIs Going Rogue Like Hal 9000
'I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me...'

Animated Tumblebugs On Astounding Cover!
'Gaines and Harvey mounted tumblebugs, and kept abreast of the Cadet Captain...'

LingYuan Vehicle Roof Drones Now Available, ala Blade Runner 2049
Accompanied by a small selection of similar ideas from science fiction.

China Steals Strato Airship Design From Google App Engine
'...war-balloons, or, as it would be more correct to call them, navigable aerostats.'

The First Space Warship For Space Force
'Each of the electrical ships carried about twenty men...'

Biohybrid Jellyfish Explore The Ocean
As predicted, and detailed, by science fiction writers!

Should AIs and AI Robots Demand Rights?
'This robot is a creature... It is a manlike being. Therefore, like any other talking, thinking man, he is entitled to a court trial!'

Robot Learns Human Tool Usage By Imitation Learning
'I got one of those new electronic cameras...'

Companion Caregiver ChatGPT Dolls
'Every Artificial Friend is unique, right?'

'Pregnancy Humanoids' From China Replace Moms
'A great many of these synthetic babies were made...'

Man Builds 200 Foot Basement Firing Range
'The basement was huge... carved deep into the rock.'

More SF in the News Stories

More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.