Emergency Services personnel receive extensive training in their respective academy.  In the initial phase of training, the subject matter is mainly academic.  Law enforcement personnel, for one, cover topics such as state law, drug recognition, hazardous materials recognition, and more through hours of classroom instruction.  The remainder of the training cycle is hands-on training.  In a portion of the hands-on training, computers play a major role. 

For instance, for law enforcement there are ‘shoot or don’t shoot’ scenarios:  These are played out on a video game like system, in which the officer stands on a padded surface that detects every movement (ducking, kneeling, shifting side-to-side).  While standing on the surface, the officer has a weapon ‘holstered’ and is provided scenarios in which he or she must decide whether or not to shoot a subject.  During this training, the officers every action or inaction is monitored up to and including verbal commands given to the ‘subject’.  This type of computer training has proven vital over the years in terms of evaluating prospective law enforcement officials. (more…)

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