Knowledge Glyphs: Iconography to assist in Command and Control

Dr. Gina Thomas, Air Force Research Laboratory
Dr. Randall Whitaker, Northrop Grumman
Geoffrey Barbier, AFRL/HEAS
Abstract

In order for command decision makers to best assess and predict the current state of the environment in an era in which warfare is no longer simply force-on-force, but also involves a variety of non-conventional threats, the ability to present relevant, timely information and alternative courses of action in an intuitive and innovation manner is necessary. One type of visualization currently under development within the Air Force Research Laboratory involves the development and instantiation of knowledge glyphs. This paper will present the current model for explaining and defining knowledge glyphs. This model was developed with the objective that knowledge glyphs must be internally coherent, referentially comprehensive, and explicitly linked to the visual interface elements that are most critical to commanders when selecting courses of action.