AXL: IPHONE (2008)

Using the iPhone UI protocol, we have developed an iPhone-friendly version of AXL's Tripwire and Power Hungry scenarios. Reconstructed from the bottom up for compatibility with the latest generation of Apple devices, these web-based training modules are faithful recreations of the original programs, subtly re-designed around the strengths and limitations of the handheld. AXL: iPhone also works on the iPod Touch.

To see more about the AXL: iPhone program, click here.

AXL: IPOD (2007)

Last year, we developed an adaptation of the AXL project's Power Hungry module that runs on the Apple iPod platform. Although it is not a direct one-to-one transfer of the AXLNet experience, it maintains the key characteristics of the AXL project: a case-based approach to leadership training, an interactive presentation of rich-media content, and guided analysis of the subject.

Click here to access the download page for our AXL iPod program.

WEB AND MOBILE CHART VIEWER (2007)

We created two charts to compare and contrast different web 2.0 sites and mobile devices. We then designed a fully customizable web 2.0 chart viewer as a means to better visualize the data we compiled on the two charts. This chart viewer can display the data from as many or as few sites/devices as the user wants. It can also expand or collapse different categories to fit the users needs. For aesthetics we give the user a choice of four different skins to view the website with. All data that the user chooses to display is seen in a column side by side with the other sites/devices the user wishes to view. This layout makes for easy comparing of sites/devices over all of their different characteristics.

The Mobile Device Survey Chart can be accessed by clicking here.

The Web 2.0 Survey Chart can be accessed here.

AXL QUESTION-ANSWER APP ON IPAQ (2007)

Although the HP iPaq hx2495 proved incapable of running a complete adaptation of an AXL training module due to its limited internal memory and video playback and integration issues, it has a more versatile user interface than the Apple iPod. To demonstrate this, we developed a proof-of-concept application that replicates the natural-language interview segment of the AXLNet website. In our application, a user can use the stylus and virtual keyboard to type out a question for one of the characters in AXL's Power Hungry module. The application processes the question and responds by launching an appropriate video in the iPaq's media player.

MILITARY RSS AGGREGATOR (2007)

Using a software package named Rnews, we set up a database-driven RSS newsfeed aggregator on the FORCE project webspace that is dedicated to making the newsfeeds from websites relevant to the Army and soldiers available from a central location. Currently it includes RSS feeds from www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil and www.military-advanced-education.com. The site is publicly accessible, allowing our colleagues at the ICT and other interested parties to read these newsfeeds.

Click here to view our site aggregator.

FORCEWIKI (2007)

Using the MediaWiki software package, we created a wiki to track our task progress and results. This website serves as a shared repository for research findings and related information.

The wiki is accessible at wiki.ict.usc.edu/force.

EXPERTISE GAINED

Over the course of our research into mobile platforms and Web 2.0 technologies, the FORCE team gained considerable expertise in these areas. We have attempted to codify the specific knowledge we gained from our surveys of the mobile device market and of exemplar Web 2.0 sites and platforms, as well as the more detailed explorations we made into several models of mobile devices. This information is presented in the FORCE Project Wiki and in the Mobile Survey Chart and Web 2.0 Survey Chart. In investigating and developing for these platforms, we have developed familiarity with a number of tools that are invaluable for work in this area. For mobile devices, these tools include Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework, the PALib development library for the Nintendo DS, and the Notes scripting language for the Apple iPod. For Web 2.0 technologies, these tools include the MediaWiki and Rnews software packages, the Firebug webpage debugging plugin for Mozilla Firefox, and the PHP, Ruby, and JavaScript programming languages.