Welcome to Simulation Technology, the outstanding webletter for the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO). My thanks to Editor Dell Lunceford and his many volunteers who made this issue a reality.
For those of you who may not be familiar with this publication or with SISO, let me review some fundamentals about SISO. We have a passion for facilitating the interoperability and reuse of modeling and simulation (M&S) resources. How we accomplish this is twofold.
First, SISO provides world-class meetings, called Simulation Interoperability Workshops (SIWs), twice a year. The SIWs are designed to allow users, developers, and practitioners of distributed simulation to meet. This is where you can interact with the finest minds in the field to learn the latest from people using distributed simulation, hear of new and innovative approaches for enhancing the technology, and get involved in shaping the technology. If you have not been to one of these events, I highly encourage you to do so. If it has been a while since you have been to the workshop, give us a try. I think you will find the experience valuable. Check out the website for information on upcoming SIWs.
Second, SISO is committed to the development of industry standards and other products designed to facilitate M&S interoperability and reuse. Several efforts are underway, to include a suite of standards for the High Level Architecture. You can become involved in working products for SISO, and thus have a direct bearing on how the state of distributed simulation advances. Standards are worked by Standards Development Groups (SDGs), which have a relatively small number of core members, but a larger number of reviewers. Therefore, if you would like to roll up your sleeves and become involved in product development, check out the website for likely opportunities.
SISO is an all-volunteer organization, which is impressive in the range and scope of its activities. It has a place for you at whatever level of participation you might like to try. You can simply come to the SIW and soak up knowledge, or you can get involved in one of the SIW forums that represent your community or technical interest. Or, you can get heavily involved in the development of one of the many products being developed by SISO. These opportunities and many more await you. I highly encourage you to get involved, and I hope to see you at an SIW soon!
Mark Smith
Executive Committee Chair 