HDMs & Virtual Reality in the US Military
As early as 1960, the United States Army commissioned mass research teams for developing complex computer networks which were essentially precursors to the World Wide Web. Indeed, the US government has invested heavily in the advancement of information technologies, and virtual reality is no exception.
The Sword of Damocles, developed by Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull in 1968, was the first head mounted display (HMD) to grace the VR world. Since this initial experiment in 3D sensory experience, VR headsets have come a long way and are now a major tool for training soldiers in the US Army, Navy and Airforce alike. In fact the US government was behind the advancement of some of the earliest prototypes of HDMs.
Training soldiers for the horrific experience of battle is no easy task, and VR technology is now used by the US military for everything from preparing pilots to creating simulated battlefields. As part of their training, soldiers are required to gear up with VR goggles and computer enhanced weapons, and weave around lasertag-esque warehouses fighting virtual enemies.
Dismounted Soldier Training System, or DSTS, is just one example of a program that the military uses. This system is much like a video game and yet it is largely lifelike and adds greatly to the average soldier’s training. “We can bring the terrain of Afghanistan to the soldier”, says Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Hammond, Operations, 157th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East, “It's hard to imagine a mountainous terrain in Indiana, but the DSTS can create it".
Besides simulating battles on the ground, VR is used for military vehicle simulations as well. All three of the main branches of the US military use VR flight simulations to train their pilots. The same method goes for ground and military vehicles such as tanks and submarines. Naturally learning to operate these war machines is relatively dangerous and by providing soldiers with a virtual environment beforehand, some of the risk in the training process is effectively eliminated.
VR can help soldiers prepare for war, however the technology is now also being used for post war experiences. Thousands of veterans struggle with PTSD once they are back on the home front. A study conducted by Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, found that soldiers were better able to deal with their PTSD when they confronted fears and memories experienced in environments like Iraq and Afghanistan through simulated VR experiences.
As VR continues to develop, the US military maintains a major role in driving its progress. Evidently VR technology is highly effective for creating training environments for soldiers and this same approach can no doubt be applied to numerous fields of civil service. The question that VR developers now have to answer is whether or not VR can be made useful to the population at large.
Post Author: Lilit Markosian
Image Source: Army Virtual Reality: Oculus Rift Military Style
