Interactive Simulations: History, Features, and Trends

Interactive simulations are well suited for analyzing large and semi-structured problems, especially in which human interaction is an important consideration. Interactive simulations, also known as human-in-the-loop simulations, can be used for generating a better understanding of human behavior under complex situations by visually highlighting features that may not be readily accounted for in traditional simulations. Additionally, they can also be used for systems analysis under operational conditions as well as for simulator-based training. In this chapter, we discuss the differences between interactive simulations versus traditional and animated discrete-event simulations; present a brief historical overview of interactive simulations, highlight the architectural features, and summarize the application and development trends.