Each year, newer and more advanced forms of technology are being created, refined, and adapted to make our lives easier and improve our day-to-day activities. With virtual reality on the rise, we have witnessed VR technologies being used for things beyond the scope of what we thought was realistically possible. One of the ways we are seeing advanced VR being used, is for training employees.
Injury Prevention
What is an athletes worst fear when out training on the field? Most would say that it's getting injured. Whether you're a high school soccer player, or an NFL superstar, no athlete wants to suffer an injury during training, deeming them unfit to play in the next few games, or potentially for the entire season. Luckily, with the use of VR, there may be a way for athletes to practice in more controlled environments, all while being able to hone in on their desired areas of improvement without risking injury. Depending on the circumstances, it's not always possible or feasible to provide hands-on training for athletes. A company by the name of Strivr uses VR to help companies with training their employees. The types of clients they help range anywhere from large retailers like Walmart, to Sports Teams, and even Restaurants. Why Walmart? I see you've forgotten about the chaos known as "Black Friday Shopping". Yes, that's right, Walmart uses VR to help prepare their employees for the mayhem that is Black Friday. Using VR, Walmart's employees can immerse themselves into the rush of Black Friday and simulate what it will be like, before actually stepping foot into the arena. As you can imagine, the opportunities for using simulated training scenarios are endless. Check out the video below if you'd like to see how athletes use virtual reality.
Staying Prepared
They say that nothing can prepare you for the sheer panic and adrenaline of being caught in a live shoot-out. For those who take on the responsibility of protecting our country, either as a Police Officer, or a member of The United States Armed Forces, no amount of range time, safety briefings, or combat training can prepare these individuals for what they might encounter. But what if there was some way we could simulate these scenarios in order to prepare them for the real thing? That's where VR comes in to play. VirTra, an Arizona-based company, helps prepare service members and law enforcement officials for the heat of combat. Using a 360° interactive screen, participants can practice the skills required of one whose job requires a great deal of trust regarding lethal force decisions. VirTra's web site states that its services provide users with "Judgmental Use of Force, Scenario Awareness, Critical Thinking, Communication Skills, Decision-Making Under Stress, Reading Body Language, Use of De-Escalation Techniques, and Public and Officer Safety". Their systems are actively used by top security forces around the globe and are regarded as the "the real deal". It's important for these individuals to receive the best hands-on training available because of the high-risk nature of their jobs.
There's no questioning whether or not VR can be used for more than just gaming. As you can see, there are real-life applications to using virtual reality beyond entertainment. Think of all the high-risk professions that exist today, and imagine if VR could be used to make training these professionals better, and perhaps even safer. As the technology continues to advance over the coming years, the opportunities for training will follow suit.
Questions
1. What are some other ways VR could potentially improve our everyday lives?
2. What other professions do you think VR training would be most useful for?
3. What are the potential advantages/disadvantages of using VR to train our workforce?
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