Emerging Technologies in the Military - John Cris Vincent S. Pelletero - Group 2

Management Information

José Rizal University Systems
Dr. Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr.,
Graduate School of Business

Master of Business Administration



Emerging Technologies: Virtual Reality in the Military




















Submitted by :
John Cris Vincent S. Pelletero


Submitted to:
Dr. Lydia C. King

TABLE OF CONTENTS






I Trends in the Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II Description of the Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2


III How it Works and How it is Related to IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4


IV Advantages and Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7


Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7


Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8


V Application to the Industry Chosen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10


VI Ethical Issues in the Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21


VII Contribution to Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25


VIII References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

I. Trends in the Industry



“Readiness is an age-old focus for militaries. As budget pressures continue to build, digital

resources that are now maturing—data science, cloud computing, and AI—can help the (US)


military be more efficiently prepared.”

(Schultz, Mariani, Jenkins, Strickland, & Raymond, 2018)



Military leaders have always wanted to know if they have enough resources and

capabilities in fighting conditions. In the past couple of years, military readiness has been crucial in


order to combat the ever increasing security threats across the globe.



As militaries across the globe look to maximize the value of every dollar in their budgets,

it seems time to reframe the debate on readiness with a new lens that leverages technologies, data

science, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities unavailable just a few years

1
ago.



The list of emerging technologies for military is quiet long. In fact, there are always new

technologies being developed for the military across the globe. From soldiers’ camouflage armors,

to railguns, the use of autonomous weaponry, 3D printing, and the integration of virtual reality in

military trainings. These are just a few examples of emerging technologies in military that could be

widely used in the next decade.




This research paper will discuss about the emergence of the use of virtual reality (VR) to

train soldiers and police officers to combat security threats around the globe.




1 https://www2.deloitte.com/insights/us/en/focus/industry-4-0/reframing-defense-military-readiness.html
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 1

II. Description of the Technology































One might ask: What is Virtual Reality (VR)?



Virtual reality (VR) is a technology by which computer-aided stimuli creates the immersive

illusion of being somewhere else. It represents an extraordinary shift in the way human experience


the digital realm. By enveloping you in an artificial world, or bringing virtual objects into your real-

world environment, "spatial computing" allows you to interact more intuitively with those objects and

2
information.


When VR became a reality, the military was one of the first to put it in action. The potential

of VR to help reduce the cost of combat training was something that is too big to be ignored. The


military investment in developing VR played a huge role in the advancement of the technology on

3
a global scale.





2 https://www.wired.com/story/wired-guide-to-virtual-reality/
3 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 2

VR allowed military to conduct combat exercises in a risk-free environment. Since the

soldiers are immersed in a virtual world, they can simulate combat missions in any part of the world

– from the Sahara Desert, to the Arctic, to the jungles of Amazon, or in the streets of Afghanistan.




4
Some of the uses of VR in the military are the following :


 Advanced ground vehicle simulator

 VR boot camp experience

 Medical training


 PTSD recovering therapy

 Virtual battlefields




We will discuss the above uses of virtual reality in the military in chapter five.






























4 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 3

III. How it Works and How it is Related to IT



Virtual reality is a computer-generated experience taking place in a virtual environment,

and completely shuts out the physical world.




If you’ve seen the movie Johnny English Strikes Again, you’ll have an idea how VR

completely shuts out the physical world from the user’s experience:




















































JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 4

The heart of virtual reality is IT. VR essentially runs on IT products from the hardware to

receive user’s inputs, to the software which generates the simulation, and process the user’s inputs


and convert it into output.



In order to successfully implement a VR, the following factor must be present:



 Real world

Refers to the physical world in which the user/participant is located. This


can also include the physical world in which the data to be used to render

a virtual world has been taken.

 The input peripherals

This includes devices like sensors and other tracking devices to track the

user’s movement and his location within the VR facility/ground.

 Computer (server)

The machine which process all the input data, and converts it to output


data. This is also where the VR software is installed.



JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 5

 VR software

This is the heart of it all. It’s the software responsible for simulating the

virtual world.

 The output peripherals


This are the devices which receive the output data from the computer. This

can include screens (virtual lenses), speakers, and other devices such as

sensory feedback.























































JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 6

IV. Advantages and Disadvantages



In this chapter, we’re going to discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of VR in

military training:




5
Advantages:
 Lower cost of training

With the use of virtual reality, the military reduces the expenditures to

transport soldiers to specialized locations and facilities. Without the need


for such facilities, maintenance of such facilities goes out of the window.

Also, fuel and ammunition expenditures are completely out of the picture.

 Higher efficiency

Soldiers can participate in training more often, resulting to more progress

in a short amount of time. VR training is also more effective to the younger

generation of soldiers.

 More possibilities


With virtual reality, soldiers can learn more about vehicle types and

environments without any time restrictions. Soldiers can examine

vehicles and weapons without the need to get the actual physical object.

On top of that, soldiers can train anywhere because all the information

can be downloaded from a cloud service.


 No risks

Virtual reality eliminates all the risks involved in military training such as

shooting, driving tanks, flying aerial vehicles, and parachuting.




5 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 7

 The range of simulation is flexible

Since virtual reality simulation is highly configurable, trainings can be

configure based on the needs of the soldiers. For instance, if the soldiers

need to prepare themselves to a swarm of enemies for their next mission,


it can be easily done using virtual reality. Configurable environments give

a lot of room for a variety of scenarios and their combinations. Also, by

recreating nausea-causing and claustrophobic conditions, you can help

soldiers adapt better without getting them on an actual plane.




6
Disadvantages:
 Security

There are a lot of disputes regarding the security level of VR devices used

by military personnel. As a result, that hinders the implementation of

virtual reality technologies in training.



This issue will be partially solved when it is decided what authentication


level is enough for usage – a simple code or something more

sophisticated like voice activation.



Another security issue is that there is no fool-proof method to protect a

network from cyber-attacks. And if any classified information is leaked or


stolen, it can have unprecedented consequences for the affected party.








6 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 8

 Cyber sickness

There are certain limitations of current VR technology that causes motion

sickness if used for too long. Due to a specific frame rate, users can

experience nausea because we are literally “tricking” our brain into


believing that we are moving.

 Software development

Producing content also poses some challenge. It is easy to create a

simulator for equipment testing, but for more complicated warfare

scenarios, you need more resources.


 Cost of initial investment

The initial investment in setting up a virtual reality training facility costs a

lot of money.

































JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 9

V. Application to the Industry Chosen


In chapter two, we mentioned the five applications of VR simulation in the military. In this

chapter, we will discuss about how these VR simulations work, and how are they related to IT.


A. Advanced Ground Vehicle Simulator
7






























Virtual reality allows soldiers to experience any type of vehicle in an

immersive and realistic way. Military-type VR vehicle simulators constitute a

complex platform that can recreate things like the shape and feel of the vehicle, its

maneuverability on various terrain types, and behavior under different weather

conditions. Soldiers can also navigate environments native to any part of the world,


including the reconstructed settlements of any sort.















7 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 10

In addition to getting the look and feel of driving military ground vehicles,

the operators of these VR simulators can also add complex games and combat


scenarios to the simulation which is a very important part of military training.



Since the military can conduct the simulation training more frequently, VR

simulation training is more efficient versus the field vehicle training which will

require expenditures on both location, and resources such as fuel and ammunition.































JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 11

8
B. VR Boot Camp Experience
A few years ago, the military combat simulations were played on regular

consoles. These combat simulations allowed soldiers to learn techniques and


strategies that they can apply in real-life scenarios.

































8 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 12

With the advent of VR, software developers took military combat

simulation to a whole new level.




























In a short amount of time, VR-equipped training facilities became

widespread. These training facilities use complex VR software, motion trackers,

and life-like equipment like guns and vests.














JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 13

The VR combat simulation not only helps soldiers familiarize themselves

with techniques and strategies, it also helps them experience these scenarios.


Unlike the combat simulation in a computer console, VR combat simulation lets

the soldiers properly react in situations using their entire body, and not just by a

click of a mouse.



C. Medical Training
9

Another area of the military which is integrating the use of VR is its

medical division. Military medics have to work on extremely stressful conditions

and dangerous environments, while putting their lives at risk.



In the past, medical personnel need to be trained on an actual flying

helicopter, or a moving medical truck. This kind of trainings however fail to replicate

the actual scenario on the battlefield such as the loud sounds of explosions and


gun fires.


9 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 14

Today, the military is incorporating VR in training their medics.

Simulations are being done on different scenarios and locations such as

helicopters, medical trucks, and other possible locations where they are expected

to treat injured soldiers. On top of that, combat scenarios are added in these

simulations to improve the experience and make the simulation as real as possible.



























VR applications can also be used to test medical personnel regularly in

order to help them retain their skills. In cases of armed actions, there might be a









JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 15

need to reacquire medical skills within a short period. But, due to infrequent use of

10
skills, any specialist can get “rusty.”


Therefore, a group of researchers has developed a system to test


medical personnel and schedule their training according to the results. After going

through a series of simulation of basic surgical tasks, they can analyze the

performance of muscles (speed, distance, accuracy, etc.) and determine the level

11
of skills decay according to the medical experience of the person





D. PTSD Recovering Therapy
12

























Post-traumatic Stress Disorder can occur following a life-threatening

event like military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents,

13
or violent personal assaults like rape.






10 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
11 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
12 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
13 https://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-overview.html
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 16

People who suffer from PTSD often suffer from nightmares, flashbacks,

difficulty sleeping, and feeling emotionally numb. These symptoms can

significantly impair a person's daily life.
14





PTSD usually is treated through psychotherapy and medication.
















































However, with the advent of virtual reality, there is another way of treating

PTSD. Using VR, the therapist can recreate the situations that influenced the


soldier’s mental state in great details. However, in this case, it is absolutely



14 https://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-overview.html
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 17

harmless and can help them overcome their fears and anxieties by experiencing

15
those battle scenes once more.

16
Note: Additional reading




E. Virtual Battlefields

























A certain degree of risk will always be involved in real-life military training.

No matter what kind of training it is, fatal accidents can occur every once in a while.




With the help of VR, soldiers can be placed in a risk-free environment

which will let them perform combat drills without accidentally getting shot, or cause

any harm to fellow soldiers.



The idea is to prepare the soldiers for real combat situations, and teach

them ways of dealing with unexpected events such as a sniper attack, but without


putting the soldiers’ lives in danger. It is vitally important that they are taught how




15 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
16 https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/can-virtual-reality-help-cure-ptsd-116076/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 18

to react to dangerous settings where the wrong decision may mean the

difference between life and death.
17



Equipped with a portable battery, a VR headset, and true-to-life guns,

they can model different warfare scenarios accompanied by an AI or their real

teammates.
18
























































17 https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-military/war.html
18 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/

JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 19

Since virtual reality applications are highly configurable, the military can use the same

equipment for different combat missions and environments, resulting to a substantial reduction to

the training budget and still get effective results at the same time.
19

















































19 https://jasoren.com/vr-military-training-the-next-step-of-combat-evolution/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 20

VI. Ethical Issues in the Implementation



Virtual reality has a few issues that needs to be resolved. Since the resurgence of VR,

ethical issues arise left and right. The following are ten ethical concerns about virtual reality:




 Sensory vulnerability

Virtual reality doesn’t just use headsets which covers the eyes as well as

the ears. It also uses VR gloves, and a growing number of accessories

and attachments. While these accessories will make the VR experience


more realistic, it also limits the users access to their sense data which

leaves them vulnerable to accidents that can come from being distracted.

 Social isolation

VR presents a danger of making people neglect their real-world social

connections. This is on top of a study which shows that social media is

already making its users feel more socially isolated.

 Desensitization


Due to the emergence of violent games, there is a danger that VR will

make its users be less affectionate or less affected by violence.



Last year (2017), academic researchers in the U.S. released the result of

longitudinal study which found that repeatedly playing violent video


games led to decrease emotional sensitivity and a lessened capacity for

guilt among participants. Due to higher levels of immersion, there is a big

possibility that this effect could be more potent with virtual reality.
20



20 https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/04/10-ethical-concerns-that-will-shape-the-vr-industry/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 21

 Overestimation of abilities

Younger people could over estimate their abilities and their expertise

because of VR. They could think that their abilities in video games could

seemingly transfer into the real-world, such as driving, martial art skill,


etc.



A study from Stanford University found out that that children who plays

VR games often fail to distinguish feats in real-life and VR – from treating

their avatars as though they are their real bodies, to watching their virtual


reality doppelgangers swimming with orcas and then recalling it as a real-

life memory.
21
 Psychiatric

Being immersed in VR can have psychological effects on some users.

Experts in neuroscience have spoken of “depersonalization” which could

result in a user believing that their physical body in an avatar. It is also

believed that VR gaming can cause post-traumatic stress disorder.


 Unpalatable fantasies

If there’s any industry getting excited about virtual reality, it’s the porn

industry. The adult entertainment website Pornhub is already reporting

that views of VR content are up 225 percent since it debuted in 2016.

This obviously isn’t an ethical problem in and of itself, but it does become


problematic if/when “unpalatable” fantasies become immersive. We have

to ask: should there be limitations on uber realistic representations of

aggressive, borderline-pedophilic, or other more perverse types of VR




21 https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/04/10-ethical-concerns-that-will-shape-the-vr-industry/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 22

erotica? Or outside of the realm of porn, to what extent is it OK to make

a game out of the events of 9/11, as is the case with the 08.46

22
simulator?
 Torture / virtual criminality


There is a concern that VR could be used by the military to conduct

interrogatory torture.

 Manipulation

With virtual reality, advertisers will be able to access the users’ entire

surrounding free from distraction, which is what concerns other people


that such thing could be used as new covert tactics involving product

placements and subliminal advertising.

 Appropriate roaming and re-creation

One of the exciting selling points of virtual reality is that it can let users

roam virtually anywhere in the world. However, restrictions must be

applied about where is the appropriate place to roam and not be able to

invade/enter any home or apartments. Such ethical parameters should


be clear to all users and developers of VR.

 Privacy and data

German researchers have raised the concern that if our online avatars

mirror our real-world movements and gestures, these “motor intentions”

and the “kinetic fingerprints” of our unique movement signatures can be


tracked, read, and exploited by predatory entities. Again, it’s clear that

there needs to be an open and consultative dialogue with regards to what







22 https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/04/10-ethical-concerns-that-will-shape-the-vr-industry/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 23

is collectable, and what should be off-limits in terms of our virtual

23
activities.



















































23 https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/04/10-ethical-concerns-that-will-shape-the-vr-industry/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 24

VII. Contribution to Sustainable Development



Virtual reality is not only currently used for training by the military, it is also being used to

train healthcare professionals prepare for complex surgeries and medical procedures. With the


support coming from the military for the advancement of VR, the entire world is reaping the benefits

of faster development for the said technology.



Improving healthcare is probably one of the best contributions of virtual reality in today’s

world. Here are a few examples of how VR is helping create a better world through healthcare.




 Advancing autism therapy

A company called Floreo is using virtual reality to meaningfully impact

individuals with autism. The company is leveraging the power of VR

to develop a supplementary method of teaching social and

communication skills to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

24
(ASD).




























24 https://floreotech.com/ & https://uploadvr.com/healthcare-vr-improve/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 25

 Reducing chronic pain

Projects like Farmoo have been created to help distract minds of

patients suffering from chronic pain. VR is used to saturate the minds

of these patients with wonderful and cheerful sensations so that they


25
will be less prone to painful senses.
 Relaxing hospitalized patients

A company called VisitU provides hospital patients with

downloadable apps and virtual glasses to allow them to get in touch

with their loved ones any time of the day. VR makes it easier for their


loved ones to keep in touch at any time without the need to drive to

the hospital.

 Restoring low vision

A software company called IrisVision partnered with Vision Australia

and Samsung Australia to create a VR device that allows vision-

impaired individuals see better.




The IrisVision software magnifies objects to allow users to see them

properly. The users get to choose the magnification along with other

settings light brightness and contrast, allowing them to be able to

perform eye-hand coordinated activities with ease.




With the examples mentioned in this chapter and the previous chapters, VR is currently

contributing to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals number 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by

helping improve healthcare, and number 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by making sure




25 http://the-peak.ca/2016/05/sfu-students-design-virtual-reality-game-for-cancer-patients/
JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 26

that our military and police forces are well trained and are well prepared to combat any threat in

peace and order.





















































JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 27

VIII. References

 Military Readiness – How emerging technologies can transform defense capabilities

 The Wired Guide to Virtual Reality

 VR Military Training – The next step in combat evolution


 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

 Can Virtual Reality Help Cure PTSD?

 Virtual Reality in the Military

 10 Ethical Concerns that will Shape the VR Industry

 7 Ways VR is Improving Healthcare






















































JOHN CRIS VINCENT PELLETERO 28