3D media has emerged as a powerful capability for interactive courseware (ICW) development. Since the late 1970s, proven multimedia products for use in ICW programs have included full-motion and still-frame video, film, photographs and slides, 2D graphics and animation, audio, and text. The new media consists of real-time graphics and interactive 3D modeling.

Instructional content is often best conveyed and illustrated in three dimensions of space. Interactive 3D graphics and animation allow a designer to develop visual simulations and dynamic scenarios that enhance the student's conceptual understanding, resulting in faster knowledge acquisition. Instructional content areas in which the new media is an appropriate choice for presentation of visuals include electronic warfare concepts such as target angle aspect effects, countermeasure techniques, antenna beam-forming methods, integrated air defense operations, terrain masking, and coordinated air combat tactics methods for suppression of enemy air defenses.

This paper describes the new media and addresses the appropriateness of using it in ICW programs. Information on the hardware and software systems commonly used to develop and deliver the new media is provided. Because the process of designing and developing the new media for ICW is unique, the paper focuses on the specific tasks performed, the personnel required to produce 3D media, the ICW products produced at each phase of the process, and the amount of time required to develop various types of 3D graphics. The paper summarizes the advantages of using the new media in terms of instructional effectiveness and software reusability.