A Mission Planning Trainer Module for IUSS Deployable Systems

The problem is defined as finding a method to leverage application software into computer-based training (CBT) about mission planning, especially when using Deployable IUSS systems. The Phase I research is based on the use of IconAuthor authoring software for IUSS CBT; and the use of X-Windows as the GUI for major IUSS applications. The objective is to verify that an application can be created to bridge between existing application software with X-Windows GUI and a training shell created using IconAuthor. A method to intercept the X message stream between the X client and the X server of the major application will be designed (xfilter); as will a method to use CBT software (using IconAuthor) to control the GUI components of the major application (xshadow). These will be tested using a CBT example constructed using lessons-learned topics from SURTASS/LFA exercises. This CBT example will access the major software application represented by the IUSS performance prediction system - SPARS. The work plan includes four steps: 1) Assessing the training need and defining the user; 2) Specifying a high-level design for a Mission Planning Trainer Module; 3) Designing and developing the xfilter and xshadow; and 4) Assembling a simple training example.