HEARTWOOD
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Heartwood has been selected as one of the 9th Annual Top Simulation and Training Companies by Military Training Technology (MT2) magazine. These awards recognize leading companies which generate continued innovation, produce effective programs, and demonstrate a deep commitment to the military sector’s training needs. Heartwood was recognized, in part, for its robust C₂Act interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) solutions which have been produced for a wide array of leading defense contractors this year:

• Raytheon Missile Systems (IMI for UAV Killer Bee System maintenance technicians)
• Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (Virtual training application built on 3D gaming tools)
• Northrop Grumman (Augmented Reality Application for equipment training)
• Vision Systems International ( 3D Videos for marketing and training)
• ATK ( Virtual 3D Task Trainer)

Heartwood’s IMI training solutions are fully SCORM compliant. They integrate 3D animations, coaching from battle-buddy avatars (voice-over and animation), audio feedback of environmental sounds, and even live video into a simulated learning environment which can be authored once and then deployed anywhere from the same source code. This means Heartwood’s IMI solutions can now easily be delivered anytime and anywhere on any device.

Heartwood recognizes that warfighters only spend a fraction of their time in the schoolhouse working with dedicated equipment and PCs. Therefore, Heartwood’s solutions have been delivered through PC, smartphone (iPhone and Android), as well as netbooks and iPads. This approach can supplement traditional learning within the schoolroom or provide just-in-time learning to warfighters who need critical information or refreshers while deployed in the field. In addition to IMI and simulated learning environments, Heartwood has embraced augmented reality to assist customers in training with visual instructions.

However, Heartwood delivers more than just pixels in its virtual task trainers and multimedia courseware design. Heartwood uses state-of-the-art instructional design principles to increase learner engagement, reduce time-to-mastery, and increase learning retention rates. Therefore, Heartwood’s team of in-house instructional designers apply techniques such as path-branching, knowledge scaffolding, and error-exposure to ensure that these serious games are engaging simulations which measurably improve the warfighter’s performance in the field.

Heartwood is working with Raytheon to train maintenance crews how to repair the Patriot Missile Defense System’s radar arrays. This interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) platform faithfully renders the radar array and provides a highly-structured training scaffolding experience to develop the critical skills which directly relate to mission success: speed, accuracy, and safety.

Within the world of the virtual task trainer, the maintenance technicians must both quickly and accurately identify malfunctioning components. In the real world, an incorrect repair diagnosis keeps the system offline and produces an unnecessary gap in radar coverage. Therefore, speed and accuracy are measured carefully within the training system. As a result of this IMI simulation program, the Patriot maintenance technicians develop pattern recognition skills, learn how to ignore extraneous distractions, and accelerate their route to skills competence and then mastery.

Heartwood was recognized by Military Training Technology magazine for its ability to integrate innovative technologies with proven solutions to create successful multimedia courseware design solutions for its clients. This award, with details of the recognition, will be published in the September 2010 issue of Military Training Technology magazine.

 This award, with details of the recognition, will be published in the September 2010 issue of Military Training Technology magazine. View award details >>