VR (virtual reality) has come a very long way in the past few years. It is now being leveraged by a wide variety of industries to offer safer, more efficient staff training. Trainees are kept out of harm’s way, while learning strategies are enhanced to provide features that would not otherwise be possible. Also, virtual training processes are generally faster and more affordable. Not only that, but VR training solutions are scalable with very little investment, allowing training sessions to be done simultaneously and across borders, to an unlimited number of participants.
Let’s take a look at some of the industries that implement VR training, and how they’re taking advantage of its benefits.
Oil & Gas
VR training in the oil and gas industry will account for an estimated 4.5 billion dollars in 2032, As the technology improves, so do its applications.
With virtual 3D models, oil and gas training procedures have been made a whole lot safer. Drills and protocols can be carried out with live training exercises that use VR to accurately simulate a problem.
Whether it is monitoring a drilling console, operating a derrick, recreating accidents on the field, or any other worksite scenario, responding to a situation can be simulated in a very realistic way. Trainees gain experience actually thinking on their feet under particular circumstances.
VR-enabled headsets and wearables provide highly-detailed and immersive models of actual production facilities and equipment. Environmental conditions can also be simulated to create training conditions that foster a degree of preparedness not previously possible for trainees. VR devices also help provide an understanding of new processes and how they might be affected under various circumstances.
Since most oil and gas production occurs in remote areas, VR helps trainees gain knowledge and familiarity without needing a rig hand to show them the ropes from top to bottom. Instead, they’ll arrive at their new positions already up to speed. Much of their training can even be done from home.
Health & Medical
Medical tools and equipment frequently undergo revolutionary advancements, so having the most effective training system possible is paramount. VR training solutions allow trainees to get simulated hands-on medical experience with state of the art tools, coming out better prepared for the real deal .
Additionally, VR allows med students to take an incredibly detailed virtual tour of the human body in incredible detail. They can also immerse themselves in a virtual operating room without endangering patients.
Since practice resources are scarce, VR eliminates the costly need to increase the amount of educational medical cadavers and supplies. Although simulations can be somewhat limited, they can be custom programmed to cover a wide array of lessons. This provides room for errors and a potentially easier learning curve.
Virtual reality can also be used by paramedics, nurses, and other healthcare professionals for a wide range of training applications that holistically improve the quality and integrity of our healthcare systems.
Business & Corporate
Training is costly and time-consuming for organizations of all kinds. But with a VR training system that is accessible on a trainee’s personal device, protocols can be expedited to reduce site-to-site commuting and hours of downtime that often plague training sessions.
An effective team of development engineers can take just about any environment, control panel, or set of circumstances and create a training simulation that ensures safety and results.
Since active learning improves retention by up to 90%, VR offers a unique opportunity for many businesses to shorten training sessions by using a more thorough teaching method. It can even provide training for the soft skills that managers value the most; customer service, HR hiring practices, and even sales departments can all benefit from simulated interactions by honing their skills in accordance with company policy.
Military & Law Enforcement
Simulated combat training is helping to save soldiers’ lives. A whopping 1 out of 20 military casualties happen during training, a number that can be decreased dramatically by incorporating more VR simulations. Not only that, VR simulations are exponentially cheaper than live exercises.
Law enforcement training is also benefiting from VR simulations for the same practical and effective reasons. Police officers can be safely trained to react accordingly to various scenarios and be better prepared for real-life situations.
Immersive training improves situational awareness, engrains better decision-making under pressure, and allows military and law enforcement personnel to begin duty with a very real sense of what live action is like—and more importantly—the skills to protect and serve.
Laboratory & Field Safety Training
The danger of working in a lab is inherent, so adequate safety measures are crucial. With VR, however, staff can master protocols for dealing with all kinds of materials, equipment, and scenarios. For example, a trainee can practice handling pathogens in a containment level 3 lab—a place where conventional training methods pose a serious risk.
Field safety also includes vehicle safety training, cargo and warehouses, and nearly any other setting where safety is a major concern. By this means, labs, construction sites, factories, and facilities can be much safer with a well-prepared staff.
Conclusion
With new technology as an evermore accessible and efficient tool, Extended Reality has become a powerfully influential force to transform company training and communication.
Through simulating various environments and scenarios, VR training allows workers of nearly all industries to increase preparedness, gain familiarity, learn from their mistakes without any real consequences, and become more effective members of their organizations.
