Simulations Today

Simulations can be defined as a controlled imitation of a real-world scenario as practice for the same situation in real life.  Simulations have been used as far back as the early 1900s to support pilots in their training process.  Since then these simulations have become more and more complex, and have been expanded to a much wider variety of situations. There is some controversy concerning these simulations.  Take for example a flight simulator, people today are debating whether or not that simulator can be used as practice to get a pilot's license instead of flying in a real plane.  So, to expand that, the broader question is if work in simulators can rid the need for practice in the real system, before achieving the freedoms to use it.  To that, a majority of people say no. Practice in the real system is necessary to gain the freedoms of it; however, a supplement from the simulation is helpful in the total preparation for obtaining such freedoms.



Practicing in the real-life system is crucial to obtaining freedoms to the system.  Take the piloting example one more.  Each plane, just like any other system, has its nuances and its quirks.  One plane may like to pull to the left in windy conditions because it was not built perfectly, but if a pilot only learned in a simulator rather than a real-life plane they would not realize that every plane is different and reacts to certain scenarios differently.  Furthermore, having the risks associated with the real-life system are good in the fact that they promote exactness and perfection.  They do this oftentimes through the fear of injury to property or person most of the times.  With this in mind, people will often take the most cautious and passive approach to things. Another primary reason to practice in the real life system rather than just using a simulator is that oftentimes simulators are just simplified versions of the real-life system.  Take for example driving simulators where the user does not have to account for such details as gas usage and in-car distractions.  The pressure applied by just in-car distractions alone causes about 9 car fatalities per day.  The everyday difference in distractions and scenarios just cannot be held in a simulation's computer.  This is why practice in the real-life system is necessary.



However, people still argue that simulations alone should allow their users to gain the freedom of using the system in real life.  To back this claim up they say that because simulations are controlled they allow for a user to practice a particular, dangerous situation multiple times so that they can get it right. This lack of harm is a pro to using such a system to practice, however with the knowledge of immunity from consequences, the user may choose to take a much riskier, however efficient path to success.  These people also claim that simulations can be programmed to do anything.  Although this may be true these programmings can prove expensive and timely to make, therefore the odds in a common training company buying this product is low.  Thus, the range in scenarios is also much less than that of the real world. Although simulations so have these issues they could be used quite effectively in tandem with the practice in the real-life system.  Much like a tutorial to a video game, the simulation would provide a simplified "how-to" so that prior to entering the real-life system, where dangers are high, the user can have a basic understanding of the system as to decrease the chances of injury due to said dangers.



So, in conclusion, simulations should not be used as the primary form of system education as they are a simplification of the real-life system and do not teach the user perfection or passive activity as there is no fear of death.  However, with the real-life system the user learns the quirks of each individual system and is able to account for them, whereas if one only learned how to use said the system in the simulator they would not.  Simulators do hold value though in the fact that they can provide a risk-free guide to the system to protect the user from not knowing anything before they enter the real-life system.  This is why using both the real system and simulation in tandem is best in the pursuit of freedom within the system.

Works Cited:
The National Center for Simulation
Teen Safe
ITGS Textbook