TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: None - product is technology development with broad application

OBJECTIVE: Develop a collaborative ability for spatially separated, networked warfighters to maintain tightly coupled shared awareness during fluid, quick-response maritime interdiction operations.

DESCRIPTION: The majority of military and business tasks today are performed by teams who collaborate to share information and task perspectives in order to reach a decision. As Network Centric Warfare (NCW) policy has been effected military forces are beginning to operate as a networked force, which requires them to plan, decide, and act collaboratively and concurrently to accomplish many tasks simultaneously. Rapid access to current, accurate, and relevant information, and the ability to engage in real-time collaboration with other decisionmakers who are geographically distributed, have become indispensable elements of the command and control planning and decision-making process. Recent incidents such as the attack on the Cole and illicit transport of weapons and destructive materials have made Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), a key responsibility of the Navy, Homeland Security and many geo-political entities. Many of these scenarios require team collaboration to solve complex problems. The objective of this solicitation is to better understand the cognitive processes employed when teams collaborate to solve problems.

A representative scenario might involve the development of a global Maritime Domain Security testbed using a wireless network for data sharing during a MIO scenario to facilitate expert reachback for radiation source analysis and biometric data analysis. Subject matter experts at geographically distributed command centers collaborated with a boarding party in near-real time to facilitate situational understanding and course of action selection. The objective of the scenario would be to evaluate the use of networks, advanced sensors, and collaborative technology for conducting rapid MIOs. Specifically, the ability of a boarding party to rapidly set up ship-to-ship communications which permit them to search for radiation and explosive sources while maintaining contact with the mother ship, command and control organizations, and to collaborate with remotely located experts. Analysis of data captured from teams performing their tasks in a collaborative environment could provide valuable insight into what constitutes effective collaborative performance. This understanding could then be used to develop technology to support this cognitive activity, develop tools to reduce cognitive workload, and techniques and processes to improve information exchange among collaborating members.

PHASE I: Develop a preliminary design of a collaboration system for distributed multidisciplinary search teams to rapidly evaluate uncertain data, integrate reachback communications and reach a consensus on a course of action in high-stakes, quick response scenarios. Propose a prototype concept for application in quick-reaction distributed team situations.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the prototype tool or model for supporting consensus development. Conduct one or more lab or controlled experiments to validate the tool and quantifiably demonstrate its benefit in improved team decision-making performance. Develop a usability-qualified interface for the tool and validate performance in an experimental or simulated operational environment. Prepare guidelines and documentation for tool transition to an operational setting. Validate, standardize and document underlying software for application purposes and implement in a field experiment venues.

PHASE III: Coordinate with user subject matter experts to instantiate a working model with actual data, get user (such as Special Operations Mission Planning Environment at the Marine Corps) commitment for training and maintenance of the application. Field test tool in an operational setting and produce improved performance measures. Implement the tool in a comprehensive package that would include an intuitive graphical user interlace (GUI).

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Private-sector applications would include any information analysis situation that involves high data volume and quick response requirements. This would include state and local emergency support teams for crisis action planning and humanitarian aid response.

REFERENCES:
1. McKinsey, (2002). Improving NYPD Emergency Preparedness and Response, McKinsey & Company, August 19, 2002. Available: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/nypdemergency.pdf.

2. Warner, N., Letsky, M., and Cowen, M. (2004). Cognitive Model of Team Collaboration: Macro-Cognitive Focus. In Proceedings of the 49th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, September 26-30, 2005. Orlando

3. Klein, G. A. (1993). A Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) Model of Rapid Decision Making. In G. A. Klein, J. Orasano, R. Calderwood, & C.E. Zsambok (Eds.) Decision Making in Action: Models and Methods (pp. 138-147). Ablex Publishing Corporation, New Jersey.

KEYWORDS: Collaboration; teams; decision making; knowledge; interoperability; shared awareness

TPOC: Mike Letsky
Phone: (703)696-4251
Fax: (703)696-1212
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Norman Warner
Phone: (301)342-9288
Fax: (301)342-9305
Email: [email protected]
3rd TPOC: Dr. Susan G. Hutchins
Phone: 831 656-3768
Fax: 619-553-9391
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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