United States Navy
Problem: Economical, consistent, and effective way to train
engineers to operate and maintain ships and submarines.
Solution: Interactive digital video training, networked with
StarWare video networking software.
Benefit: Inexpensive, effective, and easily upgradable operation
and maintenance training.
The United States Navy needed a more economical, consistent, and effective
way to train engineers to operate and maintain ships and submarines. The
Navy installed a networked digital video training system based on
StarWare(r) video server software from Starlight Networks. StarWare is a
standard Novell NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) that converts an existing
NetWare file server into a digital video and data server, making it easy
to add digital video to a network.
Says the digital video systems integrator that installed the system,
"Deciding which type of digital video to use, and how to deliver it across
a LAN, was no easy feat. We needed to deliver interactive digital video
training over a Novell network, and still maintain the integrity of
existing DOS and Windows applications. We also needed software that would
provide codec support for AVI, PLV, MPEG, and WAV audio. Starlight
Networks StarWare was the only way to go."
Adding virtual reality training situations
The Navy's existing networked training system runs on a Novell network
that uses graphics and animation to help illustrate complex technical
concepts and explain hypothetical situations. The new digital video
applications added to the network will expand the capabilities of the
existing training system by introducing virtual reality training
situations, which enable the Navy to much more realistically simulate work
situations and illustrate technical problems, making the training more
effective. As a result, users are expected to master concepts more quickly
and retain more of what they learn.
Submarine operation and maintenance training
The system has 11 10BaseT local area Ethernet networks situated at
different locations throughout the United States. In all, there are 112
systems, with each network controlled by a 486/66 Novell NetWare 3.11
server installed with StarWare-6M or StarWare-12M, depending on the number
of clients. To guarantee smooth video delivery to each client, each of the
11 networks are segmented, with each segment serving up to four clients.
Each server has a removable SCSI hard drive and a tape backup drive, as
well as three CD-ROM drives.
The client workstations are 486/33 systems with 16 MB RAM, with Pro
AudioSpectrum sound cards and ActionMedia II video boards. Each client has
a CD-ROM drive and a 345 MB hard drive. Clients run DOS 6.0 and Windows
for Workgroups. Windows for Workgroups allows clients to share files, if
authorized by the system administrator, and enables the network
administrator to easily access client stations from other client stations,
instead of always having to work from the server.
Delivering digital video over the network
StarWare solved the Navy's difficult technical issues of delivering
digital video applications over a network. It enables the Navy's video
networks to deliver uninterrupted, full-screen, full-motion video at 30
frames per second, simultaneously, to each client station. StarWare
software ensures high-quality video by prioritizing digital video streams
for simultaneous playback to client stations, while maintaining the
integrity of other DOS and Windows applications. High-quality video is
also possible because StarWare software supports all popular video
formats, allowing users to choose the right format for network
capabilities and budgets. PLV was the most cost-effective video format for
the Navy's current needs. However, if the Navy decides to switch to MPEG
in the future, only the system's playback boards would need to be changed,
since StarWare also supports MPEG files.
Benefits of the Navy network training system
The system was designed for maximum performance and flexibility. Each
student has access to video training files residing on the network CD-ROM
or hard drives, or on their own CD-ROM or hard drive. This gives students
and instructors additional flexibility to select files from the server or
from their own hard drives. Because students can access any file at any
time, they can work at their own pace, without interruption.
The Navy says the enhanced system is cost-effective and consistent,
because training is easily upgraded through minor software changes that
can be sent to servers throughout the system from a single point.
Says the digital video systems integrator, "Whether to explain corporate
policy, or train technicians on the factory floor or classroom, digital
video is becoming a key component to effective training, and StarWare is a
pivotal technology making delivery of digital video training systems
possible."
Environment at a glance
Hardware: 486/66 MHz EISA/VESA Novell server;
486/33 MHz VESA/ISA clients with 16 MB RAM; Intel ActionMedia II digital
video compression cards.
Network environment: Ethernet 10BaseT, NetWare 3.11.
Software: StarWare-6M and StarWare-12M digital video networking
software from Starlight Networks.
Video compression format: PLV video.
Authoring tool: NewWorld Development Kit for Windows.
StarWare is a registered trademark of Starlight Networks, Inc.
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