This VR Training Simulation is One of the Best We’ve Ever Seen

1

One of the best we’ve seen, this video, demonstrating a dangerous workplace simulation for train operators, shows how virtual reality and motion controllers might revolutionise training in the work place.

Anyone who’s experienced the torture of mandatory safety training and the accompanying exercises and videos will know that traditional methods to educate employees on the risks of a workplace are often less than effective. But what if you were able to step into different scenarios and environments that demonstrated these things to you? Seem to me that user engagement would skyrocket and along with it, the success of driving home the training.

sentient-600x435The Australia based Sentient Computing seem to share in this line of thinking as they recently released a video (embedded at the top of this page) showing their work on a training simulation, built to educate train workers on how to safely operate high voltage switching equipment. This particular experience was built for HTC Vive, with room-scale and accurate motion controllers giving trainees that all important ‘hand presence’ throughout.

Arguably, attention to detail when creating an environment is more important than when lives are at stake, and Sentient seem to have taken that ethos to heart with every step of the worker’s actions from donning the safety helmet (not how the user intuitively re-orients the helmet before putting it on) to hatches on the switch gear requiring two handed operation for safety catches etc.

OK, this may not be the sexiest demonstration of virtual reality you’ve ever witnessed (no zombies or jump scares) but Sentient’s work here once again emphasises the as yet untapped potential of applications utilising VR to revolutionise their potential. Putting a worker inside this environment, allowing them to safely work through procedures again and again, requiring them to physically perform motions similar to those in real life, builds muscle memory and confidence so that when they’re faced with the equipment in real life, they’ll be able to get on with the job.

SEE ALSO
Mech Brawler 'UNDERDOGS' Coming to Quest & PC VR This Month

Sentient Computing specialise in data visualisation and training and seem to be moving more and more towards immersive techniques as part of their commissioned projects. Earlier work include this high voltage switching experience built for the Oculus Rift DK2 and Razer Hydra motion controllers (see above).

It’s an interesting area, one to which VR is bringing new ways to engage people in order to help them work more safely and efficiently and although it seems awfully mundane, it’s these sorts of non-gaming applications that will help cement VR (and eventually AR) as a technology to change all aspects of our lives – with any luck, for the better.

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. See here for more information.


Based in the UK, Paul has been immersed in interactive entertainment for the best part of 27 years and has followed advances in gaming with a passionate fervour. His obsession with graphical fidelity over the years has had him branded a ‘graphics whore’ (which he views as the highest compliment) more than once and he holds a particular candle for the dream of the ultimate immersive gaming experience. Having followed and been disappointed by the original VR explosion of the 90s, he then founded RiftVR.com to follow the new and exciting prospect of the rebirth of VR in products like the Oculus Rift. Paul joined forces with Ben to help build the new Road to VR in preparation for what he sees as VR’s coming of age over the next few years.
  • DiGiCT Ltd

    This is one of the other good usages of VR, getting your emplyees up and running Quickly, although eventually AR see trough glasses will catch up this tech more and will be the real deal as PTC Vuforia already offers.