Warfighter LIVE: “The P-Word - How Can Platforms Help?” | DSET 2023

Our first foray into the real world, Warfighter Live hosted its first panel discussion at DSET in Bristol and kindly sponsored by VRAI - more about them below. We were joined by a highly experienced guests that brought a diverse range of views to the discussion:

• Lucy Walton - Head of Training at BAE Systems
• Neil Curren - R&D Lead at VRAI
• Adam Easton - CEO of SimCentric
• Wim Huiskamp - Scientific Advisor at NATO Modelling & Simulation Group

There is currently lots of discussion in the Simulation & Training community about the role of Platforms. But what does this word even mean?

We posed a few questions to our panellists to gain some better perspectives and understanding of this complex topic:

• What does the word ‘Platform’ mean to you?
• How can a platform approach improve interoperability for training?
• Can platforms drive the adoption of standards?
• Are ecosystems important for a platform? 
• Who is best placed to run a platform - industry or government?
• What are the dangers of a platform approach?
• How do we avoid ‘Platform’ just becoming just a marketing term?
• If you had to replace the world platform with any other word or phrase for defence simulation, what would it be?

An animated discussion ensued, with lots of good points made by all…plus questions from our live event audience!

Hosts:

• Tom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/ 
• Colin Hillier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhillier/

Guests:

• Lucy Walton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-walton-9b0332239/
• Neil Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-curran1/
• Wim Huiskamp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wimhuiskamp/
• Adam Easton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-easton-b5a3542b/

Links:

• Website: https://www.warfighterpodcast.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warfighter-digital/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkgiH-cwmyc2I2Iyc8MLYtg
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarfighterPod

Episode Sponsor: VRAI

At VRAI we combine virtual reality technology with data capture, analysis and cloud computing. We do this to improve the performance and outcomes of traditional training, including reducing its cost and carbon footprint.

We work with OEMs & front line commands in Defence and Security, supporting them to transform how they deliver simulation training to better prepare their troops to face an increasingly complex operational environment.

Our critical insight is that Virtual Reality (VR), as well as being a great way of presenting data to a user, is also an incredibly powerful data capture and storage medium.

Our mission is to help large organisations whose activities are risky, remote, or rare to train in a more authentic, memorable & measurable way. We combine virtual reality technology with data capture, analysis and cloud computing in order to improve performance & training outcomes, while reducing cost and carbon footprint of traditional training.