The Information Exoskeleton: Augmenting Human Interaction with Information Systems

In the military intelligence cycle the warfighter acts as both a receiver and a producer of information. As a receiver the warfighter must be able to readily assimilate disparate mission-relevant information. As a producer the warfighter must be cognizant of both the current information requirements and the ability to meet them. Both of these tasks are exacerbated by the heat of battle and, in the case of the receiver, the ever-increasing amount of available information. To address these challenges Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (LM ATL) is creating a suite of capabilities to augment warfighter interaction with intelligence services. Much like a powered exoskeleton augments human interaction with the physical environment, our Information Exoskeleton augments the warfighter’s interaction with intelligence, providing greater situational awareness with minimal operational overhead. This paper describes our vision for the Information Exoskeleton, the capabilities required to realize it, and related research efforts.