New Approaches for Navy Technical Training and Job Performance Aiding Using Expanded IETM Technology

Abstract

Abstract : As early as the 1970's, the Fleet User Systems Branch (2052) of the Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC/CD) began to develop better ways to present Technical Information (TI) to Navy Fleet users needed for purposes of operating, maintaining, training, and logistically supporting the Navy's inventory of weapon systems. Prior to that time, with the exception of Training Films, virtually all Technical Information was based on paper media. This effort resulted in the formulation of new concepts and capabilities which permitted the replacement of traditional paper Technical Manuals with the Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM). A series of laboratory and field tests conducted by the Air Force and the Navy in the late 1980's demonstrated the benefits of IETMs for performing Organizational-Level maintenance. Based on the experience and success of those initial tests, DoD IETM Specifications were developed by a Tri-Service Working Group chaired by NSWC/CD. The Specifications were initially promulgated in November, 1992. They were intentionally very forward looking and included provisions for including advanced Object-Oriented Technology and Interactive Multi-Media Technology as they matured and became more available in the future. Since that time, many Navy Programs have planned for and developed IETMs in one form or another, some conforming closely to the IETM Specifications and others using emerging COTS (Commercial-Off-the-Shelf) electronic document-viewing products when the legacy format of the existing paper-based TMs rendered the MILSPEC IETMs too costly.