Interplay Learning currently has two catalogs
Berlin, Germany, use of DAQRI’s system cut the
of interactive simulation training content cover-
time required for a novice engineer to learn how
ing a wide range of equipment and problems that
to assemble a 1,000-pound gas burner from 480
an HVAC technician or a solar-power technician
minutes to just 45.
might expect to face. These can be operated on a
Beyond time and cost savings for employers,
standard tablet or computer, making them eas-
virtual and augmented reality technology opens
ily available to large numbers of future trainees
up skills training to those who might not other-
wherever they are—without the need for constant
wise have access. For instance, just last year, the
personal supervision to prevent what could be
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians began using
costly mistakes in a real-world situation.
DAQRI glasses to train community members in
According to Donovan and his team at Interplay
electrical engineering. The hope is to reduce the
Learning, the next step is to bring the simulations
group’s high unemployment rate by enabling them
into full virtual reality. Last year, the company began
to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in
adapting them to work with head-mounted displays,
the state.
such as the HTC Vive.
As the cost of augmented reality technology
“We’re partnering with manufacturers to de-
continues to decrease, its use won’t be confined
velop materials that mimic what really happens in
to the training stage, either. Last year, DAQRI
PHOTO (TOP) COURTESY OF DAQRI; SOFTWARE SCREENSHOT (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF INTERPLAY LEARNING
the field,” Donovan explains. “It’s not just flipping
through PowerPoints—these programs actually
replicate how a piece of equipment or appliance
will work. Basically, they look like video games, but
instead of shooting the bad guy, you’re fixing a
piece of equipment.”
AUGMENTING THE REAL WORLD
Fully replicating training scenarios in a virtual
environment isn’t the only option for skills training.
Los Angeles-based DAQRI’s augmented reality
(AR) glasses are designed to guide employees
while working with real-world machinery, displaying
informational overlays that highlight relevant components,
with instructions or illustrations of what
actions to perform next.
“AR puts data in context with the real world,”
says DAQRI CEO, Roy Ashok. “You have access
to data all the time, and you can make intelligent
decisions with that data in the context of exactly
where you are physically.”
For a novice engineer, this is a game changer.
Rather than flipping through a large instruction
manual, all the information they need is displayed
right in front of their eyes. This can significantly
reduce training time. In a trial with Siemens AG in
explored how augmented reality could improve
communication among weapons operators on U.S.
Navy ships, with a heads-up display designed to
view and aim at targets selected by the coordinating
officer.
Even in less high-stakes situations, skilled
workers can continue to benefit from AR technology
long after they’ve graduated from training.
A thermal camera, for example, could direct the
wearer to problems with parts of a machine that
they might not otherwise notice.
In the future then, learning need not end at the
apprenticeship phase—even the most experienced
employees can elevate their skill levels through
virtual guidance.
“Maybe one day you are learning how to service
an automobile engine and the next day you learn
how to service a jet engine,” Ashok says. “That’s
the promise of AR. We’re not there yet today,
but there’s a lot of potential for better training
outcomes.”
Donovan agrees. “We’re moving faster and faster,
and if you can’t quickly access information and
train yourself to learn, you’re going to fall behind,”
he says. “VR and AR will make it possible for workers
to get on-demand upskilling capabilities.” ■
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