Author: JT Smith
transfer of The MITRE Corporation’s Spitfire intrusion-detection software last Fall, Open Channel
Software (OCS) announced that its Open Channel Foundation (OCF) nonprofit arm is hosting five new
applications from MITRE at www.openchannelfoundation.org, beginning today.”Just as it did with Spitfire – which has enjoyed more than 1,200 downloads since OCF began
Web-hosting the product last September – MITRE created these technologies in response to highly
specific market demands. For example, the McLean, VA-based not-for-profit national technology
resource developed Spitfire in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force. The product has been highly
successful in military exercises for the Naval Security Group, as well as the U.S. Army’s Land
Information Warfare Activity, and also has been installed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As a not-for-profit company operating federally funded research and development centers, MITRE
faces some real challenges in transferring technology,” says Gerard Eldering, director of the
Technology Transfer Office at The MITRE Corporation. “While we want our technology to be widely
used and to become available and supported for our sponsors, we must also maintain MITRE’s
objectivity,” he says.
“Furthermore, MITRE’s culture is very collaborative and open, and our researchers often prefer the
‘Open Source’ type of software release as one way to transfer our technologies, in the public interest,”
states Eldering. “The Open Channel Foundation provides a great solution for technology transfer that
fits nicely into our culture. While MITRE can release the software as open source, our government
customers have a potential vendor to turn to for support,” he notes, adding that, “In the end,
MITRE-developed software becomes available, affordable and supportable, while preserving our
objectivity.”
“JOSIT and WOSIT”
New MITRE-developed applications include “building-block” software toolkits called JOSIT (Java
Observation Simulation Inspection Toolkit) and WOSIT (Widget Observation Simulation Inspection
Tool), upon which other applications may be based.
JOSIT is an open Application Programmer’s Interface (API) for implementing applications written in the
Java programming language. JOSIT seamlessly integrates with any Java application written using
Sun Microsystem’s standard library of Java graphical objects. JOSIT observes user actions, inspects
the state of objects, and scripts graphical events.
Possible applications for JOSIT include logging of interface actions to analyze efficiency of tasks,
support needed interface changes and automated step by step instructions, as well as creating user
manuals. Also, JOSIT can be used in real-time user monitoring for enabling intelligent tutoring
systems, Intelligent Computer Aided Instruction (ICAI), Computer Based Training (CBT) and intelligent
checklists, as well as for synchronization of application sharing
The Widget Observation Simulation Inspection Tool (WOSIT) allows communication with a program’s
graphical user interface. WOSIT provides the means to observe user actions and inspect the
properties of items on a program’s user interface and, potentially, simulate those user actions. WOSIT
requires no modifications to a program’s source code or recompiling of any program. It runs
transparently, in the background, while using negligible disk space, memory, and processor time.
“ART . . . SAILE???”
Preliminary applications of MITRE’s JOSIT and WOSIT toolkits include its Synchronous and
Asynchronous Interactive Learning Environment (SAILE) and its Asynchronous Replay Tool (ART).
These software solutions can help provide a general approach to sharing tools and promoting
collaborative learning and problem-solving, according to Douglas Curry, vice president of business
development at Open Channel Software.
“Research has shown that classroom learning improves significantly when a student participates in
learning activities with small groups of peers. This educational value of student collaboration has led to
the development of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) tools,” says Curry.
“These tools enrich learning in a setting that encourages students to communicate with their peers. In
typical web-based collaborative learning environments, however, it is not always possible for all
learners to gather and participate in a learning activity at the same time,” Curry states, adding, “This is
where MITRE’s two new products, SAILE and ART, fulfill terrific market needs.”
Since asynchronous learning must be addressed, it is envisioned that Synchronous and Asynchronous
Interactive Learning Environment (SAILE) will provide rich asynchronous services to web-based
students. And, since a key component of this environment is the use of Replay to enhance
asynchronous learning, Asynchronous Replay Tool (ART) will provide persistence of objects and
actions over time.
“MINNIE and SLAPS”
The purpose of MITRE’s new Minirouter project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using commercial
products and open source software to create an “on-the-move,” general-purpose communications
capability suitable for use in tactical environments. The Minirouter provides a standard Internet
Protocol (IP) interface that can be used to connect any host computer running an IP suite to one of
several types of commercial or military satellite terminals. These terminals are chosen to be small,
rugged, and capable of being mounted to a vehicle and operating while on the move.
Meanwhile, SLAPS (System Logfile Analysis and Profiling Service) is a MITRE-developed collection of
utilities used to provide a centralized syslog log collection and analysis system for servicing
distributed heterogeneous client/server computing environments. SLAPS peruses systems logs looking
for critical messages, using three filters: Filter 1 determines whether a message is based on keywords.
Filter 2 determines whether a message is one that can be ignored, and Filter 3 determines whether a
message is one of interest, as pre-defined by the network administrator.
# # #
About the MITRE Corporation
MITRE is a not-for-profit national technology resource that provides systems engineering, research
and development, and information technology support to the government. It operates federally funded
research and development centers for the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration
and the Internal Revenue Service, with principal locations in Bedford, Massachusetts and McLean,
Virginia. The goal of MITRE’s technology transfer program is to ensure that its technology is broadly
applied for the benefit of government sponsors and the general public alike. For further information on
the organization’s available technologies, go to MITRE’s technology transfer home page
(http://www.mitre.org/tech_transfer/), or contact Gerard Eldering at 703-883-6053.
About Open Channel Software
Open Channel Software (OCS) is an Internet-based organization that publishes, distributes, and
commercializes software created at academic and research institutions, serving as a central
clearinghouse for high-quality, technically advanced scientific applications. By hosting these
programs in an open-source environment, OCS is able to monitor market activity and identify
breakthrough opportunities with strong commercial potential for appropriate hosted applications. At that
point, revenues can be generated by providing needed support services to commercially sponsored
programs targeted for success.
The OCS Web site offers truly innovative, cutting-edge programs focused around certain categories,
or Disciplines. OCS actively promotes the software that it sponsors, in order to build and maintain a
community of involved users. If software has sufficient commercial viability, OCS provides the
resources that are required to bring that software to commercial distribution, proactively markets it, and
offers fee-based support and services to its customers. Please contact OCS by visiting
http://www.openchannelsoftware.org or by phoning 773-334-8177, to learn more about Open Channel
Software, the Open Channel Foundation, its software Disciplines, products and services, or to become
a participating author/developer.
NOTE: All product names mentioned in this news release are brands or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
