Abstract

The complexity of display system acquisitions has increased in recent years due to the simultaneous introduction of several disruptive technologies including PC IGs, COTS projectors, display calibration systems, and stereoscopic displays.  This complexity surge has substantially disrupted the traditional default strategy of adopting updated specifications for current products as the requirements for the next training display system.  Unfortunately, customers can no longer rely on relatively stable product capabilities or long term supplier relationships to ensure their next training display system meets the needs of their users.

In response to these trends, the Immersive Display Evaluation and Assessment Study (IDEAS) was initiated in the summer of 2010.  A long term goal of this program is to produce a decision support system (DSS) that will enable (1) Air Force acquisition professionals to rapidly generate defensible display system requirements given a set of training task requirements, (2) suppliers to develop new visual systems and prepare proposals, and (3) aid certifiers with performance verification.

Development and validation of the models/data for the DSS began in the fall of 2010 and are described elsewhere.  The present paper focuses on how the model and DSS can be used by stakeholders.  The paper and presentation will describe the capabilities of the DSS and will provide concrete examples of:

• Generation of selected display requirements from the F-16 MTC training task list.
• Use of the DSS to make source selection decisions.
• Generation of measurement procedures.
• Use of the DSS by supplies for product development planning.

A primary goal of this paper is to solicit inputs from stakeholders prior to and concurrently with the development of the system.