Vcom3D Provides Language & Culture Tools to Soldiers Deploying to Iraq
ORLANDO, FL., August 6, 2007 — As soldiers from the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division deploy to Iraq this Fall 2007, they will be taking with them a new cutting edge, tactical technology called Vcommunicator® Mobile LC created by Vcom3D, Inc. This device will assist them in one-way communication with the local population. The iPod-based tool will provide Iraqi Arabic and Kurdish language and culture training during downtime as well as a mission aid for in-theater operations. (For more information on Vcommunicator Mobile and the 10th Mountain test, please click here) U.S. Army PEO STRI is the acquisition agency responsible for fielding this device.
“The ability to learn a new language and also incorporate the highly contextual nuances of the local culture can mean the difference between life and death for our Soldiers deployed to other countries,” said Vcom3D CEO Carol Wideman. “Vcommunicator Mobile seeks to expand Soldiers’ ability to interact with local residents in a respectful and meaningful way.”
Vcommunicator Mobile was field tested by 10th Mountain Division’s 1st BCT (Brigade Combat Team) at the US Military’s Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA. Feedback from this test was positive. One of the 1st BCT sergeants indicated that Vcommunicator Mobile was incredibly easy to use. As he stated, “Vcommunicator puts the ‘friend’ in ‘user friendly’”. He also commented that he was able to use the device with no training or reference to a User Guide.
Vcom3D’s patented Vcommunicator Authoring Suite was used to create this mobile device. The Vcommunicator Authoring Suite includes a collection of software tools that allow authors with little or no animation experience to generate dynamic, life like virtual characters in an affordable way. Vcommunicator Studio software enables the author to record any spoken language, choose a character that automatically lip-syncs to any language, and create written text of mission-specific phrases as well as video animations of culturally appropriate gestures. The Vcommunicator Authoring Suite also includes Gesture Builder, a tool for creating project-specific gestures for addition to the gesture libraries provided with Vcommunicator Studio.
Founded in 1997, Orlando-based Vcom3D, Inc. is revolutionizing education, training and communication. The company has established itself as a leader in providing improved learning outcomes that include its multi-lingual, culturally-appropriate, life like characters. Learning is delivered on desktop and mobile devices. For more information, please visit our home page.