Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there in the first place? Only to remember again once you were back where you started. As much as we’d like to deny it, our memories aren’t infallible, and something as simple as a change of scenery can mean a lack of retention.
Unfortunately, similar things happen with employee training. In industries where the work itself is difficult, or dangerous, such as mining, oil and gas or nuclear power, training is understandably often carried out in safe environments away from where the work will eventually happen. A worker who is new to the industry has a steep learning curve, not only to learn to do their specific job, but also to handle the new environment they will be working in. Training by presentation and 2D images can only go so far to explain the actual conditions likely to be encountered, meaning what is learnt in the classroom can be easily forgotten in the field.
Imagine learning about a complicated machine – there may be dozens of interactive parts and processes that need to be followed, in precisely the right order, and any wrong move risks damaging the machine and the safety of yourself and those around you. In theory you may have mastered the steps, but the anxiety of your surroundings and the importance of getting everything right can make even the most confident trainee unsure of themselves.
In a VR simulation however, a trainee learns how to use machinery in an immersive and memorable way, and can practice until they have mastered the entire process. The scenario can then introduce noises, smoke and light effects, and realistic feedback mechanisms to accurately recreate the atmosphere of their future working environment. This way, from the first time a new employee steps into the field they know exactly what to expect and won’t be distracted or alarmed by the situation they are walking in to.
If you think that virtual reality simulations could help you to train your workers more effectively, get in touch with Immerse today.