Najjar, L., Ockerman, J., & Huff, C. (1996, January). Glancing ahead: Advanced technology. In S. A. Carliner (Chair), The technology fair: Making the technology of training work for you. Symposium conducted at the Training '96 meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Glancing Ahead: Advanced Technology

Training `96
Atlanta, GA

Larry Najjar
Jennifer Ockerman
Claudia Huff

Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Multimedia in Manufacturing Education Laboratory
(404) 894-3412

gt4708d@prism.gatech.edu
jojo@chmsr.gatech.edu
claudia.huff@gtri.gatech.edu

Training Challenges

For training to be effective, it should be consistent with several challenging guidelines. These guidelines include:

• Give training when the learner needs it
• Give training where (physically) the learner needs it
• Train the learner on only the information that the learner needs to do their job
• Allow the learner to control the training process
• Use the medium (e.g., text, audio, drawings, video) that most effectively communicates the information being learned
• Emphasize performance rather than knowledge
• Shorten the time between learning and application.

Our project, Factory Automation Support Technology (FAST), meets these challenging guidelines by combining two new technologiesæa wearable computer and an electronic performance support system.

Wearable Computer

We are designing a customized wearable computer. Figure 1 shows the computer's major components.

Figure 1. Wearable computer components.

These are the features of the wearable computer:

• See-through display allows user to work while looking at text, drawings, and video
• Miniature microphone and earphone provides audio information and accepts voice input to keep the user's hands free for other tasks
• Wireless communications link sends up-to-date information to plant computer system
• Wearable computer allows the user to enter and receive information wherever the user goes

Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS)

The goal of performance support systems is to provide to employees the right information, in the right quantity and detail, at the right time. Performance support systems allow less proficient employees to perform as more experienced employees. A typical performance support system provides a combination of the following capabilities:

• Reference information about a job task or closely related set of tasks
• Just-in-time, task-specific training
• Expert advice about a job task
• Advice on how to use the performance support system effectively
• Application help functions
• Automated tools for task performance

Training Benefits

A wearable computer and an EPSS may improve the effectiveness of training in certain situations. In particular, these new technologies may be appropriate when:

• The user needs to learn how to perform specific tasks (as opposed to facts or general concepts)
• The user performs the tasks infrequently
• The user must be mobile to perform the tasks
• The user's hands must be available to perform the tasks
• Multiple media (e.g., text, drawings, video, sound) are needed to communicate the information to the user.

Applications

We used the FAST system to build one demonstration system and are working on two industry applications.

• Demonstration system shows how to make a jumping paper frog and provides reference information about origami
• One industrial application system trains environmental managers to perform a water reduction audit
• Second industrial application helps mobile Quality Assurance personnel enter quality measurements while using their hands to take the measurements

The Future

We are already making plans to improve the wearable computer. Our second-generation computer will be faster, smaller, lighter, and use less power than the current version. We will also apply the lessons we learn from building our EPSSs to making future systems even more effective.

Discussion Questions

• How does this system change the way we design training?
• How is training designed for this system different than other on-line training systems?
• What are some other applications of this technology?
• What problems does this training technology present?
• How can this training technology be made more effective?
• In what environments will this training technology be helpful and in what environments will it be a hindrance?