Navy makes sailors study on Sony PSP

To ensure that sailors catch up on their studies when at sea, the Royal Navy has decided to give them special Sony PSP consules, with courses loaded on them. HMS Collingwood gave this idea, when it found many were opting to drop their studies.

CJ: Christine

Sun, Nov 29, 2009 22:40:22 IST

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Technological News :

SAILORS WHO feel that books are too boring a medium for study, rejoice. The Royal Navy has decide to give its personnel Sony Playstations to study from instead!

The Royal Navy, in a bid to ensure that its sailors keep up with their studies when they are out at sea, has decided to purchase special Sony PSP models (Playstation portable) for them. They would let them read and listen to their coursework, apart from providing on screen tests for evaluation. It would ensure that they can study their physics and match in the cramped environment of the sea vessel, without any form of strain.

Developer of this programme, Lieutenant-Commander Mark “Beasty” Williams, said,“On most ships, the space people have is quite small. Many have bunks with just a couple of feet above. This is the sort of thing that can be used in a bunk space.”

This idea, which was given by the Maratime Warfare School in HMS Collingwood, Hampshire, solves the twin problems of workplace learning and distance learning. The school, in a recent survbey had found out that a quarter of ratings dropped out of their studies and had to retake courses, due to lack of motivation and unfavourable conditions of study at sea.

As a pilot project the Royal Navy provided these special, bright blue, Sony PSP models to Marine warfare engineering technicians, who are responsible for maintaining Sonar, Radar, communication systems and VHF radio. Every Sony PSP costs around £120 pounds. Depending on how successful they are, these would then be distributed among other personnel.

The Sony PSP consoles come with preloaded training programme and study packages, with commentary from instructors appearing in slides in"burst" of eight to twelve minutes each. The Royal Navy would distribute these consoles three months before sailors would go to HMS Collingwood for study, allowing them to study in advance. They would also get them after they return from HMS Collingwood to brush up and revise.

The project cost the Royal Navy £50,000, but it seems to be paying off soon. The weapons engineering school has bought 230 Sony PSP consoles till now. They say it more economical in the long term, as it cuts down training costs to £200 an hour. However, those wanting to take a shortcut would be disappointed - no answers can be recorded on these consoles!

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