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Show MISSION 7 Hilltop Times July 13, 1990 Visually spooking cm w u ,f 4 I Left, TSgt. Don Danks, noncommis- , sioned officer in charge of weapons systems, authors a weapons course for the Eagle. F-1- Sgt. David Delorme, a television maintenance technician ;: vv Mi 'irx 1 fii-- i .... A, required," Sergeant Wilson said. "While nothing can substitute for a human instructor, the interactive Hilltop Times staff writer videodisc comes really close, and in some ways, is videodiscs-maintena- nce better than its human counterpart." and ; Lasers, computers, light pens "Users only need to touch the screen with the light high-tecis training going For- years, - maintenance workers have used pen. No keystrokes or special commands are needmodern equipment to repair and maintain the Air ed," he said. "If a student makes a mistake of' points Force's advanced aircraft. Now, thanks to the ef- to the wrong area of the screen, the computer shows forts of Hill AFB's 4400th Maintenance Training them the correct procedure." .. The 4400th MTF is responsible for all interactive equipment is being used to Flight, videodisc workers. Air Force maintenance train training for the 5 Eagle and 6 FightFalcon aircraft. They develop i: the Called the interactive videodisc, the training tool ing combines digital video laserdisc technology with "courseware" the combination of the course, the and the program required to run the syscomputers to act as both training manual and videodisc tem. They also compose the videodiscs, create teacher. procure the equipment and ship the syscourse outline graphics, Users follow a tems to the field, Sergeant Wilson said. matched to video images. By using a special light Developing the courseware is the responsibility of pen and an ordinary television set, students are able the course authors. When they receive a program to both see and hear instructions, practice perform-in- g request from the Tactical Air Command, they desimulated procedures and receive evaluation of velop a course outline based on TAC's requirements. their performance. With the help of Detachment 8, 1365th Audiovisual of 4400th Squadron.the video footage is shot, edited MSgt. Joe Wilson, superintendent the and transferred t6 a videodisc. MTF, said the interactive videodisc has proven to : From start to finish, the whole project takes from be a success. It allows students to work at their own nine months to a year. to work the miss student and doesn't require pace "We have to be careful how we shoot the footage time to attend a special school. . "It can do just about any kind of training that is and what images are used on the final disc," Ser by David W. Harris h. - rt F-1- . pre-programm- F-1- ed receive the course visual images. x .xw U.S. Air Fore Maintenance training goes state-of-the-a- with Det. 8, 1365th Audiovisual Squadron, prepares a video laserdisc to Photos by Dove Harris high-tec- h geant Wilson said. "Although the videodisc has a capacity for more than 54,000 still frames, it is still limited. Since the disc cannot be changed, we must, include enough footage to allow for updates. "It's easy to change the software. That's why we use a diskette-basesystem," he said. "If we need we a to update course, just modify the software to show different pictures. If we've planned right, the pictures should be oh the disc." Sergeant Wilson said the Air Force was skeptical about interactive videodiscs at first. Cost and hardware reliability were the major concerns. Although an interactive videodisc system can be an expensive investment, Sergeant Wilson said they are cheaper and more effective than other forms of training in the long run. Each unit costs approxid mately $5,000. i The videodisc units have also been extremely reliable. Sergeant Wilson said despite sometimes adverse conditions, only a couple of the 340 units in the field have needed repair. Interactive videodisc training is not unique to TAC. Sergeant Wilson said the idea is catching on atf over the Air Force. At Hill, the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing uses the systems in their 6 maintenance units. He said some of the directorates are using similar systems developed by the Air Force Logistics Command. s F-1- C HI I mi QOEfOOG iiiiiiiiiiiitiftlr"'" Volunteer for the American Red Cross "UM Veterans Administration Voluntary Services. -- A American Red Cross QC& out They're for blood. jy was only week. Than three times. Now they're out lor blood every night. And they're not alone. They're Justoftwo of theall thousands people over the country who are finally starting to do once 9U At first, it e about the somethingkills almost that 32jOOO Americans every year and afflicts another 38 million. It's high blood pressure. And once you know you've can usually got It, you control it. By following your doctor's advice on control, exercise, weight medication. salt Intake, and Talk to your doctor today about getting started on m that will keep programfor blood. And In you out the running. i: fi t$i it I t i' I i I dis-eas- Sco our Coupon 4 O ArnrkxnHaartfvH Asctaaon (leuijnmiji . t.W ! mm V XHft'-- e 'jilr, .nil ilili:! i 1 |