Highly dynamic systems such as aircraft, power plants and industrial control systems often require an advanced level of training that can be difficult to accomplish effectively with traditional Computer Based Training (CBT). PC Simulations, when applied to a training domain, can serve to provide the user with the opportunity for learning in a robust, motivating, and engaging environment, wherein the presentation of the material is optimized by a high degree of user interactivity, fidelity and immersion, and where context and practice are key to learning.
Given state-of-the-market toolsets, it is believed that web browser-based PC Simulations can provide an adequate level of fidelity, interactivity, and immersion necessary to provide robust, engaging and motivating training content. The challenge for CBT developers is to create highly interactive content in a cost effective manner, moving towards browser standards-based training products. Browser-based technologies are ubiquitous, platform independent, and are becoming increasing more robust in their delivery of media rich content. Utilizing Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) development tools, it is now possible to rapidly create high fidelity 2D and 3D interactive simulations with mobile code technologies that can be easily deployed in a variety of computer based training applications and distance-learning environments.
Applying mobile code technologies for PC Simulation delivery via Web browsers additionally affords an opportunity to make use of Reusable Simulation Objects (RSO) by applying the Source Content Object Resource Model (SCORM). Starting with conceptual designs, these RSO can be reused through the various types and levels of CBT. The specific concept to be addressed in this paper is the potential for life cycle reuse of PC simulation content through RSO application. By adopting this architecture, producers and developers will not only save significant cost by not repeatedly developing the same models, it will also have the potential to improve fidelity of PC simulations.