2017 I/ITSEC - 8250

Exploration of Next Generation Technology Application to Modeling and Simulation Study Group (Room S320F)

The rapid pace of commercial technology advancements applicable to the Modeling and Simulation (M&S) communities is staggering. However, those technology advancements are not based on (or influenced by) the current state of M&S and its programs. M&S has much to gain in leveraging technology advances, such as Wearable Technology Synched with Computing, Streaming, Advanced Hardware, Cloud Services, and Data Sharing. In order to better understand the implications to M&S and standardization, the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) has established the Exploration of Next Generation Technology Applications to Modeling and Simulation (ENGTAM) Study Group (SG), which began in December 2015. The purpose of the ENGTAM SG is to capture the technical concepts, to learn from examples applicable to the M&S domain, and to continue to elucidate a better understanding of how the latest and greatest technology can help M&S. The SG is also examining how to minimize the struggles that are typical when trying to adopt new technology, including: the risk of the unknown; expensive changing of processes based on that risk; and understanding enough about the technology to take full advantage. Moreover, it is exploring other undiscovered struggles of large organizations taking on new, and hopefully useful, technology. This paper covers findings from nearly two years of examination in order to capture the latest industry technology trends and available solutions, specifically focused on their applicability to the M&S domain. We explain a slight change in SG focus towards technology adoption, and present the next steps for continuing the education and documentation of best practices for large organizations to examine, adopt, and utilize the newest technologies for M&S as the technologies present themselves. The advances in technology will not be slowing down. M&S practitioners must adopt a strategy that supports properly leveraging these advancements in order to enabl