No abstract

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited 095 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank)2. REPORT DATE March 2001 REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVEREDMaster's Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE: Title (Mix case letters) Jser-Centered Iterative Design of a Collaborative Virtual Environment 6. AUTHOR(S) James E. Boswell FUNDING NUMBERS PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943-5000i. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)Office 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENTApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words)Most tasks that are desirable to train in a virtual environment are not tasks that we do alone, but rather are executed collaboratively with one or more team members. Yet little is known about how to construct virtual environment training systems that support collaborative behavior. The purpose of this thesis was to explore methodologies for developing collaborative virtual environments for training. Our approach centered on analyzing task or training specific requirements for the simulation environment. We applied user-centered design techniques to analyze the cognitive processes of collaborative wayfinding to develop interface design guidelines. We utilized the results of our analysis to propose a general model of collaborative wayfinding. This model emphasizes team collaboration and interaction in problem solving and decision-making. We tested the model in the field, using cognitive task analysis methods to study land navigators. This study was intended to validate the use of user-centered design methodologies for the design of collaborative virtual environments. Our findings provide information useful to design, ranging from model enhancement to interface development. We have explored the cognitive aspects of collaborative human wayfinding and design for collaborative virtual environments. Further investigation of design paradigms should include cognitive task analysis and behavioral task analysis. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. SUBJECT TERMS USER-CENTERED ITERATIVE DESIGN OF A COLLABORATIVE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTJames E. Boswell Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy B.S., University of ...