CIMIT RIPS

This emergency response training project was developed in conjunction with the Center for Integration of Medical and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) at Massachusetts General Hospital and is funded by the VHA Health Foundation. Using the National Incident Management System (NIMS), RIPS (Real-Time Incident Preparedness Simulator) seeks to go beyond other instructional tools by delivering tense, engaging disaster scenarios. Players work together to resolve disasters, while a Disaster Moderator (DM) introduces additional challenges in the form of on-the-fly modifications to the scenario. The DM also provides feedback and facilitates a thorough debriefing.

Emphasizing problem solving, RIPS features simulated representations of any US town or city, generated from real-time data. By using actual locations, players are able to exercise the same situational awareness present as in real disaster zones. Additional factors such as weather, population, and other statistics can also be used to add an additional level of realism.

Faculty:

• Amanda Crispel - Faculty Advisor
• Ken Howell - Faculty Advisor

Students:

• Alison Seffels - Producer
• Alex Gustafson - Lead Designer
• Michael Lahens - Designer
• Glen Cooney - Writer
• Wesley Knee - Lead Artist
• Derek Harde - Artist
• Kate Baxter - Lead Programmer
• Bryan Hare - Programmer
• Chris McCarthy - Programmer
• Corey Cunha - Programmer
• Eric Basile - Programmer