Simulators vary in their fidelity, or their likeness to the real task. At the low end of the fidelity scale, for example, is simulating an aircraft cockpit using simple household items. This could be sitting in a chair in your kitchen and moving objects around to simulate the aircraft controls. Another example is simulating the controls of a car using similar domestic objects. At the high end of the fidelity scale are the full motion airliner simulations used by airlines to train their pilots.
High fidelity does not always mean high learning effectiveness though. High fidelity in early training may distract you, and therefore decrease learning performance. Low fidelity simulations, such as the chair example above, can be more effective when first learning new tasks.
What’s important is to match the cueing (prompting) by the system, and the ability to respond to those cues, with the training level. If the cueing and response is correct, regardless of the automation or sophistication, simulation will be effective.
For example, US army researchers tested personnel training on a complex ninety-two step procedure on a control panel. They compared training on real equipment, on a realistic simulator, and on a mock-up made from cardboard and photographs. They saw no differences in training time or long-term retention across the three methods.
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Basic simulator example—the home-based flight simulator This is an outline of how you could use household items to set up a basic aircraft cockpit. Don’t worry if some of the controls are not familiar to you. Just note how I use various objects in creative ways. This cockpit could include such items as: · The seat. Sit in an adjustable chair that you can set to low height, in front of a table or desk. · Yoke, throttle and mixture. A tall glass upside down on the table for the yoke, a smaller upside down glass on the right for the throttle, and shot glass next to that for the mixture (place some red cloth or paper inside the glass to make it look red). Place these glasses on a large sheet of cardboard laid flat on the table, and mark the positions for centre of the yoke and open and closed for throttle and mixture. If you already have a computer joystick, use that for the yoke instead. · Switches. A thin book on the edge of the desk with bulldog clips on the edge for switches such as fuel pump, carby heat, lights, master etc. Place a piece of paper under the clips with markings for what the switches are for. Put a large weight on the other end of the book so it doesn’t move too far (or the clock radio, see below). · Flaps and trim. Two saucepans on the floor, placed on their side between a few large books with the handles sticking up, simulating the Piper-style flaps and trim. · Radio and Transponder. An old clock radio for the radio and transponder, placed on top of the switches book. Mark some of the switches for various functions such as on/off, standby/alt, ident etc. Tune your flight radio as you normally do, by turning the dial. · The control panel. Use a large sized photocopy of a standard control panel layout for the plane you are flying in. Mount it on some cardboard, and stand it up in front of you. · Your headset. If you have one already, wear it! If not, just wear some standard headphones. Use your imagination to think up other ideas to enhance your simulated cockpit. If you have children, you may want to practice your passenger handling skills. They may even come up with ideas you haven’t thought of! |