NCJ Number
230109
Journal
Journal of Strategic Security Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: November 2009 Pages: 21-33
Date Published
November 2008
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article describes the features of "ICWorld," which uses a massive, multi-player online gaming (MMOG) technology as an approach to intelligence analysis that fuses ideas from experts in the fields of gaming and data visualization with knowledge of current and future intelligence analysis processes and tools.
Abstract
MMOG involves many participants who are electronically connected to interact in the same virtual environment. Using MMOG technology, ICWorld enables intelligence analysts to identify and connect the information and people relevant to their interests; develop and test hypotheses; think critically by challenging assumptions and exploring alternative viewpoints; and participate, communicate, and collaborate with colleagues in these processes. The "virtual environment" is the hub of IC World, and is based on Forterra Systems' MMOG platform called OLIVE (On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment). This is a geospatially accurate, persistent 3D virtual world where users, as avatars, can move about and interact with the things around them, such as buildings, cars, streets, and other avatars. This is done in finding, viewing, filtering, prioritizing, and semantically processing information about the people, places, and events relevant to their analyses. A second component of IC World is the "Hypothesis Management System (HMS)," which is a 3D environment critical to supporting an analyst's ability to create and explain finished intelligence. Within the HMS, analysts can organize their data into structured arguments to create, explore, and test multiple hypotheses simultaneously. A third component of IC World is the "Analysis Management System," which captures and records all of the analysts' actions within ICWorld. A fourth component is the ICWorld "Knowledgebase," which is a collection of static and dynamic open-source and intelligence data in a variety of formats. The fifth component of ICWorld is "Expert Finder," which enables analysts to search for, contact, and collaborate with experts within the intelligence community. 5 figures and 10 references