Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
Similar to Reaching its Potential: Making Government Developed OSS a Major Player
Similar to Reaching its Potential: Making Government Developed OSS a Major Player (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Reaching its Potential: Making Government Developed OSS a Major Player
- 1. Reaching its Potential: How to Make Government-Developed OSS a Major Player Military Open Source Software Conference August 3, 2010 Perry McDowell
- 2. Perry McDowell Navy Nuke-SWO MSCS from NPS Virtual environment for damage control training At NPS/MOVES since 2000 Executive Director at Delta3D since 2003 Delta3D is an open source game engine
- 3. Our history MOdeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation MOVES began in March 1996 with the MS degree program The PhD program was approved in 1999 Originally intended to be mix of Computer Science and Operations Analysis MOVES has since evolved to contain significantly more areas and has become its own field
- 4. President Obama now requires all government employees to push the US auto industry as part of the bail out? “If I asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.”- Henry Ford
- 5. “…and tomorrow I shall be sober!” 5
- 6. “A hiatus exists between inventors who know what they could invent, if they only knew what was wanted, and the soldiers who know, or ought to know, what they want, and would ask for it if they only knew how much science could do for them. You have never really bridged that gap yet.” -- Winston Churchill, The Great War NPS is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between Modeling and Simulation’s potential and military needs. We combine military operational expertise with technical expertise towards relevant, cost effective, sustainable solutions. Philosophy
- 7. MOVES brings together the technical and tactical
- 8. Mission To enhance the operational effectiveness of our joint forces and our allies by providing superior training and analysis products, education, and exemplary research in the field of modeling and simulation. DOD-focused Education and Research addressing the Science and Technology that drives creation and application of Modeling and Simulation tools. Contribute to the evolution of the M&S discipline 8
- 9. Core Competencies Human Systems and Training Training system design and human factors Human performance evaluation Cognitive Agents and Adaptive Systems Learning agents in rich environments Predictive agents Computer Gaming, Visual Simulation, Augmented Reality Methods for game-based training design Highly cost efficient software and simulation development Mixed-mode, real and virtual, simulation environments Standards and Interoperability Web-Based Simulation Simulation Modeling for Analysis Composable models, large-scale reusability Experimental designs for large studies NPS is independent and objective – answers to end users, not stockholders. Uniquely positioned to identify and address the areas that best contribute to advancing S&T behind M&S NPS is independent and objective – answers to end users, not stockholders. Uniquely positioned to identify and address the areas that best contribute to advancing S&T behind M&S. 9
- 10. ITEC and I/ITSEC “You can’t swing a dead cat on the show floor without hitting an unsubstantiated claim.” CDR Joseph Cohen At I/ITSEC 200X 10
- 11. MOVES is an honest broker where you can get unbiased advice based upon science
- 12. “Typical” Current Projects Evaluation of E2 NFO station as training platform Novel requirements generation process for deployed F-18 training Visualization system for NSWC damage visualization Behavior Analysis Synthesis and Evaluation for Improved Training Transition live exercise MOUT AAR tools from 2D video streams to 3D annotated reconstruction Computer vision, agent technology, training design and evaluation Port security game for FLETC training Perceptual modeling for improved agents in games. Evaluation of Combat Models for IW training III Corps emergent requirement – invaluable reach-back for MOVES
- 13. Challenges Enrollment of Civilians Continued evolution of the Research Agenda and Education Program (BoK) How do we discover the ‘unknown, unknowns’ Improving interoperability Open source, standards and architectures Immersive distance learning Leveraging medical simulation advances Human behavior representation Joint, Coalition, Interagency, military-civil operations ITAR restrictions Linking academia, military and industry
- 14. Did you see anything about managing and directing OSS programs?
- 16. Delta3D Overview Delta3D is an open source game and simulation engine Specifically designed for training apps and interacting with tools those apps use Built atop other open source projects Licensed under Gnu’s Lesser General Public License (LGPL) – not viral
- 17. Delta3D Overview Delta3D was designed to be the “commodity” solution – it provides what is freely available and puts it in an easy to use API It is not intended to replace any of the AAAA game engines (Half Life™ 2, UNREAL™ 3, Cry Engine™ 3) However, now it has some specific features for its intended usage well beyond what is available in most other engines
- 19. Michael Skok, on OS adaption If we have a better product, and it happens to be open source, we're going to win. But it has to be in that order.1 1 – Delivered at the OS Business Conference, SF, March 2009 From Matt Asay’s Open Road Blog, http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10204910-16.html, dwnld 3/30/9
- 21. VBS2 VBS2 is beginning to corner the market that Delta3D was built to fill VBS2 is a good piece of software Delivers good value Very responsive to DoD needs Run by former officer in the Aussie army
- 22. VBS2 ≠
- 23. Delta3D Cannot Compete w/ VBS2 As the major game-based sim for land-based training WITH the inherent restrictions imposed upon us as a DoD “research” project
- 24. VBS2 Chosen for the Army by PEO-STRI because no other option met requirement of being ready then Bohemia Interactive used IRAD to create awesome tools for non-technical users, i.e., Soldiers Constantly working with customers to figure out what they need and give it to them Hey, that’s open source’s gig
- 25. Problems w/ Delta3D Competing Work on reimbursable research funding All work must be directed in support of the final deliverable Can’t take funds from companies without an Act of Congress Okay, an act of ONR
- 27. AGILITY
- 28. OSS is about agility, and VBS2 is more agile than Delta3D right now
- 29. So, What’s the Problem w/ VBS2? VBS2 sounds great – what is the problem with keeping using it? Isn’t it more important to have the best tool, which certainly seems to be VBS2 today, than satisfying a philosophy?
- 30. Possible Problems Peter Morrison might leave and be replaced by someone not so customer-centric Peter himself said at 2009 NATO Gaming Conference that they’re not making enough money on military sales/contracts Compared to the high risk/high reward payoffs of the gaming industry BI might die, be acquired, etc. causing a change in business strategy
- 32. What’s Needed? A simple, well-documented method with considerable top cover to give control of software developed within the government to an outside agency A simple, well-documented method with considerable top cover to give control of software developed within the government to an outside agency
- 33. Problem: Who Makes Decision? At a conference, someone from a government lab asked me how I got permission to release my code as open source
- 35. Problem: Who Makes Decision? At a conference, someone from a government lab asked me how I got permission to release my code as open source We never even thought about it, we just released it This lab had to go to their PAO to get permission to release the code as OSS
- 36. PAO
- 37. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 38. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) – WHO? DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 40. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) – WHAT? DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 41. Remember me?
- 42. “DoD Always Liked You Better”
- 43. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) – WHAT? DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 44. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) – HOW? DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 46. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) – WHY? DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 49. What Needs to Happen (My Thoughts) DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizations
- 50. What Do YOU Think Should be Done?
- 51. Point of Contact Perry McDowell Executive Director, Delta3D mcdowell@nps.edu (831) 656-7591
Editor's Notes
- If you have any questions, ask them when they occur to you rather than waiting until the end – I think it works better that way.Finish w/ “I’ll start w/ an overview of MOVES, which IS important for this talk.”15 secTotal: 15 sec
- Everyone has a mission statement, we have one too.What’s important is in the yellow, but some things in yellow are BOLDED, they must be REALLYIMPORTANT.Today, everyone uses M&S, what do we do?Similar to the fact that every engineering discipline uses PHYSICS, but there is still a Physics Dept to keep improving the knowledge.
- How many have seen Spinal Tap?Very familiar to the most famous scene in that movie, the ELEVEN scene.You go to a booth and ask, “What does your project do?”A: “This one has a much higher resolution.”Q: “And how does that improve training?”A: “Well, if your apps not training people correctly, you can increase the resolution, and then, well, you’ve got more resolution.”Q: “And how does that improve training?”LONG PAUSEA: “This one has more resolution.”
- Future: more sensors, more networks, greater interdependenceEnvironment, energy, economy – global.Social impact
- Of course not, I wouldn’t be asking this question if the answer was “YES” would I?So how did I get into managing an open source project for the last seven years?Short version of Delta3D story: We had two USMC students who did a great thesis, and the USMC wanted to distribute their project to all Marines.Couldn’t, due to proprietary licenses
- VBS2 is a proprietary game based training system, originally based upon the Operation Flashpoint game. Run by Bohemia Interactive (BI), and the latest version is on the same engine as the Armed Assault game.
- Okay, great, you can’t compete, so what????We should want the best solution, which today is VBS2, not try to meet a philosophical bent.
- Pete might leave or be replaced – no guarantee CEO will always be so DoD centric.Pete may be forced to change – profit is too small.Or any one of a thousand problems.
- And even if Pete stays, there’s no guarantee he’ll remain the good guy.Hulk Hogan, the good-est of all the good guys in wrestling, did a “heel-turn” and took a steel chair to “Macho Man’s” head
- Question: How did you get permission to release as OSS?Kinda shocked, hadn’t really thought about it: did I really need permission to do this? I live in the academic world, which is significantly different from the government labs world.And partially my answer was something I learned from a very wise woman… CLICK!!!
- RADM Grace Hopper, a legend in the CS world, would come and talk at the Naval Academy to each plebe class. She would also give away nanoseconds <CLICK> and I still have mine.When I heard her, she wasn’t nearly as young as she is in this picture. She seemed like 300 years old when I saw her.What the Admiral put out as the most important rule of her career, and I don’t think that she was the first to come up with this, but she was the first I heard it from, was “It is much easier to beg forgiveness after than get permission beforehand.”I’ve always tended to follow this. Looking at someone with a stupid look on your face, and saying “Gee, I’m sorry, I didn’t know” seems to have worked pretty well in my career, except to when I was running nuclear power plants.
- We just did it.But this lab, they <CLICK> had to get permission from their PAO to release their code as OSS.Think about that for a second… <CLICK>
- THEY NEEDED TO GET PERMISSION FORM THEIR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER.I have heard of MANY stupid things in my time in and working for the military, but that might be one of the stupidest. Is there anyone in their organization who knew less about computer code and the rationale for releasing it as OSS?What, was the base chaplain too busy? Why didn’t they get the welfare and rec officer’s opinion on it?I told this story because it demonstrates how convoluted just RELEASING code as OSS can be.So you can imagine how difficult it will be to shift all code to an outside organization.Now, David Wheeler came up with a matrix at lunch which might answer this question, but here are my thoughts <CLICK>
- DoD CIO needs to disseminate a memo describing how to transition OSS from government organizations to outside organizationsSince I believe in open source, so I don’t necessarily think that this is the perfect answer, so I’m hoping that you can help me work on this to make it pretty close to perfect, or as close as possible.Now, I’m going to parse this to try to explain how I came up with this by going over the questions they teach at journalism school so that you can understand my rationale and, hopefully, it will spark some thoughts in your minds, which we can discuss later.My lawyer won’t return my calls.
- WHO – DoD CIO <CLICK>RATIONALE: He wrote the memo on using OSS – seemed like a good person, and I knew Dan would be here, and I hope to pin him down on this while here.
- What – take away from gov’t orgs.RATIONALE: Gov’t can’t do crap well.
- What – give to outside orgs.What is best type of organization?Company: Gov’t doesn’t have to pay for, but same problem as BI: they can do the Hulk “heel turn”Symposium: Who controls?