Cost effective operator training

Abstract

The graphical front-ends of large scale operator training simulators traditionally consist of hundreds of thousands of lines of code. Given the undiminished and expanding demand for increased graphical complexity, this figure is set to approach or exceed tens of millions of lines of code by the end of this decade. The scale of this trend is such that the conventional development of training simulators using procedural code will become disproportionately costly, difficult to update and ultimately unmanageable. To counteract the implications of increasing code length and program complexity, graphical interfaces can now be developed using object-oriented programming methods. To produce cost effective operator training, advantage may also be taken from other recent developments in computing technology, notably the rise in power of the personal computer (PC) combined with a decrease in its cost. This paper explores currently available simulation based operator training platforms and the extent to which PCs can be used for the provision of low cost dynamic operator training. The example involves the use of a novel object-orientated programming method for the front-end which has then been linked to a dynamic simulation package executing either on a networked workstation or on a PC.