The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and National Weather Service (NWS) have developed the Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT). Distance learning materials for satellite data and the integrated use of data sources in the NWS Warning and Forecast Office (WFO) environment have been developed and delivered.
The VISIT learning materials have been developed using the NWS' distance learning system. The system is an interactive PC-based telephone conferencing system. NWS training centers use this system for their real-time distributed distance learning courses. VISIT training sessions with WFOs have been conducted with this system. The capabilities of this system will be demonstrated in the electronic poster session with VISIT training sessions. The NWS distance learning system offers interactive capabilities to involve students in the presentation of material during the learning sessions.
VISIT learning materials have also been developed on Internet web sites to allow quick access to these training materials. In an effort to provide improved functionality for interactive learning sessions, many of the current capabilities have been incorporated into a new internet-based distance learning application called VISITview. VISITview development and testing have resulted in improved internet-based capabilities. The new method combines the best features of the current PC-based teleconferencing system and improves on critically-needed capabilities to display and interuse remotely-sensed data sets. The capabilities of the current distance learning method and VISITview will be shown and compared. Enhancements in VISITview improve on imaging and animation capabilities important for demonstrating the NWS' modernized data sets. VISITview has also been designed to mitigate Internet connectivity issues with NWS WFOs. Current Internet limitations at WFOs prohibit use of extensive multimedia internet conferencing.