Usability Dimensions of Simulated Detectors for Improvised Explosive Devices

Abstract

Buried explosives, such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), are a threat to operations in the military. This challenge is compounded by limits in training the military to detect IEDs using a handheld detector called the Minehound. Thus, a call for improved IED detector training is answered through testing Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Minehound trainers: these trainers are subjected to a usability investigation. Further, the VR and AR developments are framed within a Systems Engineering Process Model. Following traditional Minehound instruction, a data collection event occurred over a two-day period, where ten Marines were asked to use the VR and AR Minehound trainers. Following the Marines’ interaction with the trainers, the Marines completed a usability questionnaire (i.e., agreement with the usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, satisfaction, and effectiveness of the trainers; and responses to open-ended questions). Ratings indicated future iterations should not emphasize aspects of ease of use and ease of learning, such as for user interfaces, but emphasize challenging aspects, such as helping users accomplish training tasks. A lower mean score in the usefulness subscale may be linked to breaks in fidelity (e.g., lag issues, weight issues, and a non-standard Marine sweep technique). Primarily, considerations for usefulness, satisfaction, and effectiveness aspects should be highlighted in the future as per an iterative design process. A cost-benefit analysis is given to compare the traditional and experimental forms of training. Limits of the study include experimental, environmental, and technical issues.