Can I shoot your avatar?

The Army's growing interest in simulated training includes personalized avatars that would perform similarly to a specific soldier based on that soldier's skills, reports Eric Beidel in National Defense Magazine.

The recent Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference showcased many avatar options, including a version operated by an actor in another city that interacted with attendees in real time. But as the Army has embraced video-game like training, officials see a need for avatars that share the same physical and fitness attributes as the solider operating them.

“What the Army is suggesting is maybe we need to develop a character that is representative of the individual so when we put that soldier’s character in simulation it performs the same way the individual would perform,” James Blake, the Army’s program executive officer for simulation, training and instrumentation.