UK using iPad to train soldiers for Afghan operations
The US Army isn't the only security force adopting Apple's iOS devices for training and military operations; the UK is also now actively using iPad to train its soldiers.
Following a report earlier this year that outlined the interest in Apple's mobile devices being expressed by the US Army, a new report by the BBC outlines similar interest across the Atlantic.
The Royal School of Artillery in Wiltshire is already using iPad to train soldiers how to handle a "fire mission," a scenario where they are facing enemy fire from several miles away. Early trials have shown troops "have learned the jargon and procedures more quickly than before, when they were sat listening to lessons from instructors," the report said.
Lance Bombardier Jason Markham, who has already served in Afghanistan and is in training for a second tour, told the BBC, "[iPad-based training] makes it more fun instead of being sat in a classroom looking at a presentation being given information.
"If you're on a course you can take this back to the block and practise with it, even have little competitions with it."
Army training officer Major Rich Gill, who has been working to roll out the iPad training, noted, "if we can use this sort of technology, we can probably shorten the amount of training and that is pretty key nowadays when people are so committed to operations in Afghanistan.
"There's so much they need to do before they go there and when they come back. If we can use this to reduce the amount of training it'll be fantastic."
While the armed forced are facing cuts, Gill said the move to iPad-based training is good value for the money because its helps cut related expenses, including printing reference guides a manuals. "You can get all the material that you need on there at the right time and it's really mobile as well," Gill said.
Apple's iPad was among 15 other devices the team considered, and "at the time this project came about this was the best bit of hardware on the market," Gill noted. The same team is now working on a 3D training app for pilots, intended to help them quickly identify different types of vehicles from the air.
Following a report earlier this year that outlined the interest in Apple's mobile devices being expressed by the US Army, a new report by the BBC outlines similar interest across the Atlantic.
The Royal School of Artillery in Wiltshire is already using iPad to train soldiers how to handle a "fire mission," a scenario where they are facing enemy fire from several miles away. Early trials have shown troops "have learned the jargon and procedures more quickly than before, when they were sat listening to lessons from instructors," the report said.
Lance Bombardier Jason Markham, who has already served in Afghanistan and is in training for a second tour, told the BBC, "[iPad-based training] makes it more fun instead of being sat in a classroom looking at a presentation being given information.
"If you're on a course you can take this back to the block and practise with it, even have little competitions with it."
Army training officer Major Rich Gill, who has been working to roll out the iPad training, noted, "if we can use this sort of technology, we can probably shorten the amount of training and that is pretty key nowadays when people are so committed to operations in Afghanistan.
"There's so much they need to do before they go there and when they come back. If we can use this to reduce the amount of training it'll be fantastic."
While the armed forced are facing cuts, Gill said the move to iPad-based training is good value for the money because its helps cut related expenses, including printing reference guides a manuals. "You can get all the material that you need on there at the right time and it's really mobile as well," Gill said.
Apple's iPad was among 15 other devices the team considered, and "at the time this project came about this was the best bit of hardware on the market," Gill noted. The same team is now working on a 3D training app for pilots, intended to help them quickly identify different types of vehicles from the air.
Comments
Could you do this training in other ways? Of course, But the iPad's compactness, reliability, and ease of use make it better than the alternatives.
... the UK is also now actively using iPad to train its solderers.
eh?
eh?
They're the ones soldering the country back together.
eh?
Sounds like it's an electrical engineering simulation app.
Just one example of why all the iPad haters missed the point.
Could you do this training in other ways? Of course, But the iPad's compactness, reliability, and ease of use make it better than the alternatives.
IMO the real benefit is instant on and inherent touch ability(common in mil hardware interfaces). Otherwise a regular ol PC or mac laptop should work just as well or better. I'm waiting for ability to print(easily) and better basic file storage/transfer in v2(hopefully).
IMO the real benefit is instant on and inherent touch ability(common in mil hardware interfaces). Otherwise a regular ol PC or mac laptop should work just as well or better. I'm waiting for ability to print(easily) and better basic file storage/transfer in v2(hopefully).
I must disagree with you on a few points. I think the motion sensors and the multiple axis gyro could give a more realistic or imersive experince to the trainie and the 10-12 hour battery gives it a big advantage. I think that most laptops with that kind of graphics performance would not be able to run on battery very long and wouldn't really be cheaper. And coming from my mostly antedodal observations most portabels thAT can go 12 hours on a charge have weak graphics peformance.
I am happy they can get them! I want to buy another and they are like trying to find rocking horse droppings!
I found my on the shelf next to the hen's teeth.
Just one example of why all the iPad haters missed the point.
Could you do this training in other ways? Of course, But the iPad's compactness, reliability, and ease of use make it better than the alternatives.
It helps that it has good development tools, lots of software, easy management, good industrial design, long battery, feels more personal then a personal computer, and will be around for the long haul. It would be hard to find something that can compete with that... even among net books. I think that there is also a collective subconscious desire for a device like this to succeed. That is why there is very little criticism and a lot of praise placed on the iPad despite it being a new concept with lots of things to iron out still. There is a global interest to make this device succeed. I think that competitors may have trouble rallying the same support.
No matter what they are using it for, Apple should not get into the KILLING-BUSINESS. Once the military get into Apple products, chances are there will be export restrictions. And who knows what else.
I don't like it at all.
Hope they are not getting special pricing or quantity-dsicount on this. No wonder, iPad is still hard to get.
No matter what they are using it for, Apple should not get into the KILLING-BUSINESS. Once the military get into Apple products, chances are there will be export restrictions. And who knows what else.
I don't like it at all.
Well in addition to killing, they also stop killing. So if they do it right, there's an overall reduction in killing.
Unless an iPad can stop a fucking bullet, its value in Afghanistan is nominal.
Bullets fuck?
Unless an iPad can stop a fucking bullet, its value in Afghanistan is nominal.
Using an iPad to train soldiers is useless since iPads can not stop bullets?
Using an iPad to train soldiers is useless since iPads can not stop bullets?
Windows PC's need to be able to stop bullets, since people are more likely to get frustrated and try to shoot the fucker!
I am happy they can get them! I want to buy another and they are like trying to find rocking horse droppings!
I bet they didn't have to try that hard. Surely Apple keep some aside to give quickly to people like this in the knowledge that it will get them yet more positive (and free) press!