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US Secret Service Virtualizes Tiny Town

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the vectors-of-voxels dept.

An anonymous reader writes "For the past 40 years, a miniature model environment called 'Tiny Town' has been one of the methods used to teach Secret Service agents and officers how to prepare a site security plan. The model includes different sites — an airport, outdoor stadium, urban rally site and a hotel interior — and uses scaled models of buildings, cars and security assets. With help from the Department of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate, the Secret Service is giving training scenarios a high-tech edge: moving from static tabletop models to virtual kiosks with gaming technology and 3D modeling."

5 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Fixing what ain't broke and learning styles by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Funny

    The old system wasn't broken why update it?

    GET OUT

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  2. Re:Fixing what ain't broke and learning styles by RevWaldo · · Score: 4, Funny

    The old system was much more sophisticated that tabletop models. Here's a video of a pre-CGI simulation of a terrorist attack:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNV7hKVu-Xg

    .

    --
    Prisencolinensinainciusol. Ol Rait!
  3. Re:Fixing what ain't broke and learning styles by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Informative

    The old system wasn't broken why update it?

    Ummm ... to improve on it?

    The Secret Serviceâ(TM)s James J. Rowley Training Center near Washington, D.C., sought to take these scenarios beyond a static environment to encompass the dynamic threat spectrum that exists today, while taking full advantage of the latest computer software technology.

    So, do more and do it better.

    It also seems that this would change the learning styles for the agents.

    Yeah, from TFA ...

    Both third- and first-person viewing perspectives for overhead site evaluation and for a virtual âoewalk-throughâ of the site, reflecting how it would be performed in the field.

    You can't do a walk-through in a table-top model. This is more like the real thing. Seriously, The Fine Article actually explains this stuff. They get a lot of new capability they don't have now.

    They wouldn't have sought this out if they didn't think it would be to their benefit. Hell, I suspect if they built this right, they could input real locations and do some of their preliminary work on the computer, so they start out with more information.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  4. Re:Fixing what ain't broke and learning styles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Did you see anything?"

    "No Lord Helmet, I didn't see you playing with your dolls again!"

    "Good!"

  5. WarObama 40K by not5150 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Secret Service Agent 1 - President Obama will be walking down Ave B surrounded by six agents in standard formation.
    Secret Service Agent trainee - Rolls six-sided die. My Terminators will teleport on top of your Suburban and my Imperial Guard will move south on Ave A.
    Secret Service Agent 2 - That's impossible.. stick to the rules.
    Secret Service Agent 1 - Exactly, we're dealing with reality here. Everyone knows Terminators can't teleport on top of vehicles and your Imperial Guard won't have line of sight to the President.
    Secret Service Agent trainee - Takes out a yard stick, lines it up with the President and his figures... I do have line of sight, cry more noob.