The ARL Displays FedLab: a partnership between industry, government and academia

In order better to accomplish its mission of serving Army R&D needs, the Army Research Lab (ARL) has pioneered the concept of the Federated Laboratory (FedLab). This is a new method of conducting government-sponsored research in which ARL is an active participant in, and manager of, a research consortium involving various industrial and academic partners. A FedLab is funded via a new instrument, the Cooperative Agreement. The industrial and academic laboratories effectively become virtual divisions of ARL, enhancing and complementing its internal capabilities. Three FedLabs were established in 1996 to perform research in areas related to the future “digitization of the battlefield.” One of these is the Advanced and Interactive Displays FedLab, a five-year basic research effort to develop new technologies in human-computer interaction and related areas. The consortium is managed by a committee of representatives from all members, reporting to a program manager at ARL. The management committee and ARL jointly prepare annual research plans, working to ensure the relevance of the research to customers in the Army. Great care is taken to see that resources are committed to the technology transition process. The Advanced Displays Federated Laboratory brings together investigators with a unique mix of skills in computer science, engineering, and human factors, with orientations ranging from very fundamental research to highly practical and pragmatic work