Page 29: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1999)

SIMULATION TRAINING

Training in the Virtual World

The process of human comprehension of the world and accumulation of social norms and professional skills essential for life runs in continuous contact with reality and involves assimilation, over- coming and reorganization of the physi- cal and social conditions of existence, and adoption of the experience acquired by previous generations. The result of this development of each human being is the formation of an individual image of the world in which, in addition to all the other factors, professional aspects of each person's social life are recorded.

At the threshold of the third millenni- um, mankind has approached an unprecedented change of paradigms connected with the upbringing, social- ization and formation of a personality, and, as a specific case, professional training: man has entered virtual worlds.

These worlds are encountered every- where: at recreation centers, schools, universities, training centers and even at home on the computer screen. Man migrates from one virtual world to another acquiring new knowledge, new experiences (not always positive), and new personality qualities.

Without dwelling on details about the entire diversity of this virtual life's aspects, this article will only touch upon those which are connected with the familiarization with professional envi- ronment and evolution of knowledge and skills adequate to the profession's requirements. As a rule, the final part of any education process is the specialist's practical training. By this time, theory has already been absorbed, examina- tions passed, the little that remains to be done is to implement in practice that bulk of professionally significant infor- mation which was acquired in the years of studies. And this is exactly where the problems start. The modern engineering and technology world is extremely com- plicated. Controlling this world is a task of great responsibility, as any mistake may bring about irreversible conse-

Alex Koukharenko, the Transas Vice-president who is the ideologist of all simulator develop- ment in Transas.

March, 1999 31 <9> SKANTI

SKANTI

SCAN BRIDGE

The ultimate GMDSS communication console

Features • Ultra compact (59 cm wide) pre-wired main console and conning position module for fast installation. • The SCANBRIDGE consoles are based on the new generation of

SKANTI products: • TRP 1250 orTRP 1500- 250/500 Watt radio systems with integrated SSB/Radiotelex and DSC operation. • VHF 1000 DSC - professional

VHF with integrated DSC (Class A).

The SKANTI range of consoles has been completed with the new and flexible SCANBRIDGE con- cept which in terms of size and integration represents the most unique and compact solution ever introduced in the GMDSS market.

Skandinavisk Teleindustri SKANTI A/S

Kirke Vaerloesevej 34

DK-3500 Vaerloese, Denmark

Phone +45 44 35 64 00

Fax +45 44 35 64 01

Telex 37292 skanti dk

E-mail [email protected] http://www.skanti.dk

SCANBRIDGE 1250 A3 solution

Circle 317 on Reader Service Card