Cognitive performance and communications in a network-centric battle laboratory

Many of the technological advances in the information sciences that make the network-centric battlefield possible will also foster methodologies that enable the study of the warfighter in this environment. Specifically, the tactical events and computer networks in a battle laboratory can be designed with capabilities to facilitate capture and analysis of embedded operational performance metrics. This paper refers to the Air Maneuver Battle Laboratory environment, its command and control components, its synthetic battle environment, and its basic communications structure as an example. This paper also introduces two papers. In the first paper, O'Donnell, Moise, and Schmidt describe their generalized methodology to evaluate personnel during performance of operational tasks. They discuss a cognitive taxonomy, test generator, and synthetic cognitive and motor tests with applicability to military or civilian tasks. Personnel are evaluated with these synthetic tests for those very cognitive skills and capabilities most required to successfully perform the actual operational task of interest. Perhaps the illustrative and innovative measurement methodologies described will encourage others to consider how new approaches can be used to leverage the study of cognitive performance of the future warfighter in a network-centric environment. The second paper by Whitmore discusses how communications and embedded operational performance metrics may be acquired in teams. Whitmore highlights some critical aspects leading to the successful measurement of team performance in realistic console operations; discusses the idea of process and outcome measures; presents two types of team data collection systems; and provides an example of team performance assessment.