One of the more interesting stories to make the cut last week was that of the British Army evaluating a specially developed version of Half-Life to train its troops.
The army version of this first person shoot-em-up is not dissimilar to the Counterstrike module of the game. It allows up to eight soldiers to go into virtual combat at any given time, where the unit moves about a simulated environment working to track down and confront an enemy.
Using the software, soldiers can try out new weapons and tactics without endangering themselves physically. Despite this flexibility, some semblance of reality has been added to the game; instead of a health resource which decreases each time a player is shot, in this version one bullet really is the difference between life and 'death`.
Sometime this summer, the QinetiQ 1 mission will take the world`s biggest balloon to the edge of space.
Basheera Khan, UK correspondent, ITWeb
The Ministry of Defence hopes the system may help reinforce some of the lessons learned on more traditional training exercises. So far, so good. Soldiers making use of the software are seen to be deeply immersed in the exercise; it`s not just a game, and it`s obvious to observers that there is just as much incentive to succeed at this as there is in real training.
Lookin ahead
More fascinating than the application is the source; QinetiQ, the company which helped develop this particular version of Half-Life, is one of those organisations whose scope of involvement sets the mind awhirl - the company is involved in the automotive, aviation, defence, energy, finance, health, marine, public sector, rail, road and highways, space, telecoms, media and electronics industries.
QinetiQ`s aim is generally to be at the forefront of research and development in each of these industries. As a result, QinetiQ is making substantial investment in materials, processes and applications of nanotechnology, and has had a hand in training the officers of the UK`s National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.
After studying the habits of certain species of beetle that survive by extracting water from desert fog, it developed technology for collecting water in the Namibian Desert. Work in this regard has applications ranging from collecting drinking water in arid regions of the world to improvements in the efficiency of air conditioning systems.
The company contributed its technology to the 2002 Oxford and Cambridge boat race; the boats were equipped with the latest global positioning system device which measured rowers` stroke rates, boat position and speed as well as relaying, with pin-point accuracy, the various times achieved to reach the important historic landmarks. Its electromagnetic device was able to accurately measure the length of the course for the first time in the boat race`s history.
And sometime this summer, the QinetiQ 1 mission will take the world`s biggest balloon to the edge of space. The mission objective is to break the world altitude record for a manned balloon, by ascending to 132 000 feet - almost 25 miles high.
Back to its roots
Not surprisingly, QinetiQ has its roots in the government. It comprises the greater part of DERA, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. Until July 2001, DERA was an agency of the UK Ministry of Defence, incorporating the bulk of the ministry`s non-nuclear research, technology and test and evaluation establishments. It then split into two organisations, DSTL and QinetiQ plc. DSTL remains part of the ministry and continues to handle the most sensitive areas of research. QinetiQ is a wholly government-owned UK PLC.
The ministry is currently seeking a strategic partner for QinetiQ from a shortlist of potential investors, and it`s hoped that the transaction can be completed by the end of this year. As a public private partnership (PPP), QinetiQ will have greater freedom and access to capital, allowing it to exploit its technologies and capabilities in wider markets. An initial public offering is on the cards at some point within the next two to four years, subsequent to the PPP being established.
DERA`s research and development includes the invention of liquid-crystal displays, carbon fibre, the technology for flat-panel speakers, infrared sensors and microwave radar. With lineage like this, it looks like the sky`s the limit for QinetiQ.
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