How to Build Device Simulations

Jonathan Kaye*, Amethyst Research LLC, Philadelphia, PA

PRE-WORKSHOP SKILL LEVEL: Technical. Participants who have familiarity with programming in Flash will gain more from the afternoon sessions than people without such familiarity, but Flash-programming experience is not required. Hands –on.

ABSTRACT:

MORNING: DESIGN AND APPLICATION OF SIMULATION

900-10:00

"Simulation: What It Is, and What It Isn't" Introduces application of simulation, what simulation-based training is and what it is good form, the difference between free play and constrained interaction, tools involved, and a high-level look at what is involved in their development. We also touch on why we have chosen Macromedia Flash MX as our primary development tool.

10:15-12:00

"Preparing for Simulation-Based Training" Introduction to performance-based learning, the process of managing a simulation-based training project, and application areas such as certification. In the last 30 minutes of this session, participants apply the information taught by collaborating in small groups and "spec'ing out" performance objectives and timelines for mock projects.

12:00-12:45 Lunch

AFTERNOON: SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT

12:45-02:00

"Methodologies for the Design and Implementation of Simulators" Teaches statecharts, the UCM methodology, and the development of a user interface toolkit to increase workflow efficiency in Flash MX. The concepts are taught in the context of developing a tape transport (play, rewind, etc.), and a coffee maker. Through interactive exercises, participants are introduced to the theory and shown how to construct the coffee maker.

2:15-03:00

"Simulation Sounding Board: Bring Us Your Issues!" In this session, we talk with the participants directly and elicit their ideas and concerns regarding simulation projects they may be considering. In this highly interactive format, we help participants focus on the central elements and help guide them to begin their own projects.

3:15-05:00

"Advanced Simulator Design and Implementation" This session presents a behind-the-scenes look at the design and implementation of a multi-modal watch, cell phone, ventilator, hospital bed, Boeing 737-400 pneumatics instrument panel/interactive schematics, and call center switchboard, among others. The participants will see these examples first in the opening session, but this time the participants get to see pieces of the design and to connect the methodologies taught in with the end result.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

Simulation-based training is virtual, hands-on training in which operators train to operate devices as in real life, but in a risk-free environment. Building simulators can be daunting, but when armed with engineering best practices such as taught in this seminar (statecharts), developers can straightforwardly product scaleable, maintainable, and manageable simulators. Participants receive:

1. A bound, printed version of the presentations

2. A CD-ROM containing presentation example source code and demo software, in Flash

3. One signed copy of the author's book (with accompanying CD-ROM), "Flash MX for Interactive Simulation: How to Construct and Use Device Simulations."

By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

1. Prepare performance objectives and instruction for teaching operator skills using a simulator

2. Model the behavior of a simple device

3. Recognize how the statechart and UCM methodologies can be applied to design scaleable simulators.

Jonathan Kaye

PO Box 63684

Philadelphia, PA 19147

Phone: 215-627-8146

Fax: 215-627-8150

Email: mailto:jmk@amethyst-research.com

Website: http://www.flashsim.com/

*Speaker Bio

Jonathan is the president and co-founder of Amethyst Research LLC, an interactive design and engineering firm based in Philadelphia that specializes in the development of sophisticated device simulations for training and promotional presentations, particularly but not limited to the medical device industry. He and his colleague David Castillo are the authors of the new book, Flash MX for Interactive Simulation, the first how-to book on the topic of building simulation-based training in Flash.

Jonathan is a computer-programming expert with experience in developing software programs for biomedical visualization. At Amethyst, he is the chief programmer, and has coordinated and developed Amethyst's most sophisticated and successful products. He has taught audiences at various skill levels, from management overviews, to technical lectures on introductory computer science classes or advanced programming topics.

Jonathan graduated from Cornell University with a BA in Computer Science, and from the University of Pennsylvania with a Ph.D. in Computer Science. His doctoral research simulated cardiopulmonary interactions and its disruption by penetrating trauma.