Techniques for Computer-Based Training of Air Intercept Decision Making Skills.

Research was performed on topics associated with computer based training of dynamic skill tasks. Training for such tasks is to be distinguished from the teaching of fact systems, the training domain most heavily studied in computer based instruction applications. It was hypothesized that the attentional demands of dynamic skill simulation training require that special instructional techniques be used for training to be effective. Several dynamic skill tasks were studied, and a laboratory analog to the Air Intercept Controller task was developed for experimental use. The experiments conducted showed that intrusive instruction is less effective for such simulation training than is non-intrusive instruction. Experiments on the use of voice input and voice output devices for such training produced mixed results, suggesting that current low-cost technologies for voice IO are approaching the acceptability threshold for this type of application.