The Department of Homeland Security is developing a game that lets players experience what it is like to be in charge of the response to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. Ground Truth requires players to respond quickly and to make intelligent decisions to avoid casualties and damage and apparently the game is aimed at training personnel to respond in case of emergencies.
The computer scientist in charge of development, Donna Djordjevich, has said that they are aiming for high production values including next-gen graphics so that people are attracted to it and engaged. Although the game is not intended as a commercial product for the moment, so far $600k have been invested in development.
This is a sign that at least the U.S. Government is moving forward with programs like these. Although some agencies have used games like Doom for training in the past, others such as NASA could also benefit from these technologies. Detailed games with accurate graphics can help in simulating real life situations in controlled scenarios and environments. A space sim could help astronauts in flight training or for missions where they have to perform repairs to a shuttle or the Space Station.
I have no doubt that we will be seeing more and more involvement of games and game related tech in the coming years. Hopefully, the application of games in broader fields and real life situations will drive the industry in creating better games and more enjoyable experiences. Maybe new genres will emerge and sims like the one DHS is developing will catch on. This might be history in the making. We might be witnessing the birth of Real Time Crisis Management.
Read [Science Daily] Also Read [Gamespot]
One of the primary benefits of using the Amber Alert portal is that it provides a consistent platform for every state to use. Every state could develop its own interface method for accessing the national alert system, but that would be costly and time-consuming.
That's one of the advantages of the web. It can reach millions of people and also help millions interact. The Amber Alert portal could in turn be connected to other systems like cellphones and forms of advertisement so that it could get to a broader audience.