Virtual Reality Training 101

Advances in virtual reality and augmented reality technology has opened many opportunities for educators and professionals to use VR simulations and scenarios for academic and training purposes. Since virtual reality provides the ability to experience realistic simulations and enables the students and trainees to build practical skills and in-depth knowledge in their field.

There is certainly not a single company, organization, or association on the face of the Earth that can get by without well-trained and prepared employees and team members. In any case, as much as everybody likes to brag about how powerful their training and preparation program is, the basic certainty is that nothing can beat hands-on involvement and on the job experience.

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Advantages Of Virtual Reality Training

Improving one's skills and abilities in daily tasks and situations, in spite of all the specialized development is eventually what makes an expert important. Also, this one territory where Virtual Reality training and preparation shines above the rest. Virtual reality is ready to be a leap forward innovation for training and preparing, because of its vivid nature and the opportunity it offers to rehearse in practical settings without stressing over results. Advantages associated with VR training:

• Accelerated Learning
• Remote Implementation
• Makes Learning More Visual
• Scalable Learning and Training
• Minimizes Training Risks
• Real World Experience
• Increased Engagement
• Risk Management
• Affordable Training
• Reduced Pressure and Enhanced Creativity

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The Potential Of VR Training

How much we can expect virtual reality to truly impact corporate training is a complex equation. Since employee training covers an overwhelmingly broad set of topics, the opportunities are endless. In the early days of virtual reality, VR’s impact on training will focus on safety and manual practice, where many jobs require skilled and practiced movement.

Workplace Training Is Better With Virtual Reality

As more companies turn to virtual reality to train their employees, PwC recently conducted a study on how VR measures up as a training tool for soft skills in comparison to the classroom and e-learning. PwC studied employees from 12 U.S. locations, which were trained in the classroom, e-learn, and v-learn. As seen below, the time to complete the training was up to four times faster in VR than the classroom and 1.5 times faster than e-learning.

The study concluded that VR-trained employees reported higher confidence levels and a better ability to apply the skills on the job. VR learners showed a 40% improvement in confidence over the classroom and a 35% improvement over e-learning training.

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Why is Virtual Reality an Effective Training Tool?

Virtual reality is an effective training tool because it allows learners to be engaged in a realistic and immersive experience. This type of learning environment can provide opportunities for learners to practice and receive feedback in a safe and controlled setting. Additionally, virtual reality can help learners to develop spatial awareness and understanding of scale, which can be difficult to recreate in a traditional classroom setting. VR can also be used to create simulations of dangerous or difficult situations, providing a safe space for people to learn and make mistakes. Additionally, VR technology is becoming more sophisticated and less expensive, making it more accessible to a wider range of users.

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Industries Using VR For Training

Virtual reality has demonstrated its ability to transform and drive results in the corporate learning and training arena–and the world is starting to pay more attention. From traditional classroom learning environments to extreme training situations like Apex Officer, VR reduces investment and increases enrichment across a range of industries. Industries that are currently using VR for training:

• Healthcare
• Hospitality and Retail
• Manufacturing
• Law Enforcement
• Sales Training
• Mechanical Training and Repair
• Safety and Risk Management
• Tourism
• Sports and Athletics
• Military and Combat Training
• K-12 Education
• Health and Fitness
• And Much More

In fact, Apex Officer's VR training simulator was recently featured in Forbes' Five Biggest Tech Trends in Policing and Law Enforcement, "In the US, police officers in Oklahoma use a different system called Apex Officer, which helps to train to respond to calls where mental health is an issue. Other systems use 360-degree video walls that surround the trainee, rather than requiring them to wear a headset."

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Cost Savings Of Virtual Reality Training

As a new technological innovation, VR is proving it's use case by delivering significant results. Since virtual reality is focused on improving current processes, the results of VR can be tested, and an organization can easily compare current methods to a virtual learning course. Cost savings of virtual reality take the form of:

• Time Savings and Efficiency. If you want to learn German, living in Germany is the fastest way to do it. When you're fully immersed in a virtual reality world, it's almost difficult to NOT retain or remember information from your training experience.
• Risk Reduction. For high risk and dangerous industries, one mistake could result in millions of dollars in damage. These scenarios are difficult to prepare for. With virtual reality, police officers, firefighters, pilots, and more can prepare and train for the most dangerous scenarios in a safe and controlled environment.
• Planning and Logistics. Planning, scheduling, and organizing training is a long and demanding task. There's a reason why training manager is a full-time job. With virtual reality training, it's easy for every employee to get their training hours.

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Benefits Of Virtual Reality Training

• Safe and controlled training area
• Simplifies complex problems
• Innovative and enjoyable experience
• Little to no risk for organization
• Improves user retention
• Suitable for many different learning styles
• Realistic and scalable scenarios

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Problems that Virtual Reality Training Simulators Solve

Virtual reality (VR) training simulators can be used to simulate a wide range of real-world scenarios and environments, allowing individuals to practice and improve their skills in a safe and controlled setting. Some examples of problems that can be solved with VR training simulators include:

1. Medical training: VR simulators can be used to train medical professionals in procedures such as surgeries, emergency medicine, and patient care. This can help medical students and professionals to practice and improve their technical skills, as well as their ability to manage stress and make quick, accurate decisions in high-pressure situations.
2. Military training: VR simulators can be used to simulate battlefield scenarios and train military personnel in skills such as combat tactics, marksmanship, and emergency medical procedures.
3. Industrial and manufacturing training: VR simulators can be used to train employees in industrial and manufacturing environments in tasks such as assembly, welding, and machinery operation.
4. Firefighters and emergency services training: VR simulators can be used to train firefighters and emergency services personnel in a range of scenarios such as building fires, natural disasters and emergency medical response.
5. Driver training: VR simulators can be used to train drivers in a range of scenarios such as city and highway driving, adverse weather conditions, and emergency response.
6. Engineering and architecture: VR simulators can be used to train engineers and architects in building and construction, as well as allowing them to visualize and test design concepts.
7. Mental health therapy: VR simulators can be used in the field of psychology and psychiatry to help individuals cope with conditions such as PTSD, phobia and anxiety by simulating real-life scenarios that may trigger those conditions.

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Learn more about virtual reality, augmented reality, and the future of police technology and innovation.

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