Slashdot Mirror
Game Technology Helps Drive Military Training
longacre writes "With the gaming industry now spending more to develop user interfaces than the Pentagon, the Army has begun putting all that R&D to good use in weaponry and training. Reversing the traditional role of games attempting to simulate real life killing machines, it is now the weapons makers using gaming technology to make their products more effective. Popular Mechanics notes, 'Already, [Mark Bigham, director of business development for Raytheon Tactical Intelligence Systems] says that Raytheon has been experimenting with Wii controllers to explore the possibilities for training simulators and other applications that require physical movement. Just think, one day, the R&D that Nintendo put into Wii bowling could end up influencing basic training.'"
Its only effecient, or effective, if it can be proven that Duck Hunt actually improved the performance of the soldiers outside of a shooting range.
There is a huge difference between being accurate at a shooting range, and accurate in battle.
Snipers (as in the Hollywood glorified version) would probably be the only ones that would show signifigant skill improvement via a game such as this.
As far as efficient and also effective, combat simulation (ie: wandering around an actual building/area with weapons and live and/or moving targets) is as good as it gets... and probably just as cheap considering both envolve modified real-world weapons, plus it also includes more than just aiming and shooting at targets, improving stamina, flexability, breathing under pressure/stress, getting comfortable with your gear in the real-world.