Virtual Reality technology is advancing exponentially. The days when it was just something that we saw in movies and TV are over. It has almost completely taken over the gaming market. It is quickly becoming a large part of safety training for jobs of all types. Today we’re gonna look at traditional safety training vs. VR safety training, and whey the pros and cons for each.
The traditional way of training employees to deal with a dangerous situation that could arise is no longer enough. It is too difficult to show someone the changing variables that can take place in a tense situation. With VR safety training you mitigate risk entirely and I think that is one of the most important factors.
Traditional Safety Training vs. VR Safety Training
There are a lot of jobs where safety is crucial. Police officers, firefighters, construction workers, and pilots are only a few that could have dire consequences if safety is not a top priority.
Safety training was traditionally done in a classroom. Different scenarios are brought up and discussed to identify the best solutions for each one. Hands-on training can look a lot different depending on what kind of job you are doing.
- Police officers have obstacle courses and firing ranges to simulate conditions in the field.
- Firefighters have towers that they climb, and they go into smoking buildings or houses having a controlled burn.
- Pilots can get into a cockpit simulator to practice their instrument training.
Some of these forms of safety training are more effective than others. But all of them have serious drawbacks. Mostly, they are limited.
You can only go through an obstacle course once before it becomes familiar. You cannot change the layout. You can do them over and over. But with there being no way to change them, they can become monotonous and lose their effectiveness.
Reasons Why VR Safety Training Is Better
Here is a list of reasons why VR safety training is considered superior to traditional safety training methods:
- Risk-Free Environment: VR training allows trainees to experience hazardous situations without the actual risk of injury or damage, ensuring safety while learning critical skills.
- Realistic Simulations: Virtual reality can replicate real-life scenarios with high accuracy, providing a more immersive and authentic training experience.
- Customizable Scenarios: VR allows for the creation of diverse and complex scenarios that can be easily modified to suit different training needs, something not feasible in traditional training.
- Instant Feedback and Assessment: VR systems can provide immediate feedback on performance, helping trainees to quickly identify and correct mistakes.
- Enhanced Engagement: The immersive nature of VR keeps trainees engaged and focused, leading to improved retention of information and skills.
- Repeatability and Consistency: Trainees can repeat scenarios as often as necessary to master skills, ensuring consistent training outcomes.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Over time, VR training can be more cost-effective than traditional methods, reducing the need for physical resources, travel, and site-related costs.
- Accessibility: VR training can be accessed from anywhere, making it more accessible to a wider audience without geographical constraints.
- Reduced Time and Resource Requirement: VR safety training can condense lengthy training modules into more efficient sessions, saving time and resources.
- Enhanced Safety Awareness: Experiencing simulated dangerous situations can heighten awareness and preparedness for real-world risks.
- Data-Driven Insights: Advanced tracking and analytics in VR provide valuable data on trainee performance, enabling targeted improvements.
- Scalability: VR training programs can be scaled up easily to accommodate more trainees without the need for additional physical space or resources.
- Adaptability to Technological Advancements: VR technology continuously evolves, offering ever-improving tools and techniques for effective training.
- Personalized Learning Experience: VR can be tailored to individual learning styles and pace, enhancing the effectiveness of the training.
- Environmentally Friendly: VR safety training reduces the need for physical materials and travel, contributing to lower carbon footprints.
- Preparation for Rare Events: VR can simulate rare or unusual events that are difficult or impossible to replicate in real life, ensuring preparedness for all scenarios.
- Improved Crisis Response: By simulating high-pressure environments, VR safety training enhances decision-making skills and crisis response in emergency situations.
There are inherent dangers and feasibility problems with the traditional way safety training happens. It comes down to the fact that the way it has always been done is the only way to do it. Companies make the best of it.
Some of the things that we do for safety training are dangerous in and of themselves. To send firefighters into an actual fire to train them and have police officers fire at moving targets is risky. But since it was the only way to teach them, that is how they did it.
Now that Virtual Reality technology has come so far, a whole new dynamic is opening up. There are many reasons why Virtual Reality training (VR Safety Training) is better for workers than the old way.
Safer Environment with Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality takes all the danger out of any environment. It can get you close to feeling like you are there without putting you in harm’s way.
A police academy student can go into a nearly life-like scenario that they could face in their career. They can confront all sorts of dangers. And the next time that they run through it, they could face all-new encounters. The whole setting could even be changed.
A firefighter could train to retrieve a child from a house fire without facing the dangers of actual flames. You never have to worry about smoke inhalation or overexertion. No buildings will collapse, and no one will get seriously hurt.
Electricians can practice their trade without the risk of electrocution. Rescue workers can practice HAZMAT protocols without being exposed to dangerous chemicals.
Different Scenarios, Fully Replayable
Traditional training is limited in what scenarios you can train. A firefighter can train in a house fire, but not in a high rise at the same time. You can’t physically burn a house and then drive to another part of town to simulate a high-rise fire.
But with Virtual Reality, and specifically VR safety training, you can train them on their duties in the house fire and then switch over and do the high-rise or a water rescue on the same day. The scenarios change, which forces the trainee to use a different part of his mind.
It keeps workers from getting complacent in their training. They retain more of what they learned in the classroom because they find more hands-on ways to use that knowledge.
Endless Repetition
For some VR safety training, the only way to master it is to do it repeatedly. Virtual reality training for construction workers can take advantage of the value of repetition. A worker on the fiftieth floor of an unfinished skyscraper can virtually do that job repeatedly until it is second nature.
Working with virtual tools, putting on safety equipment, and going through procedures and protocols many times will make them retain more.
Even surgeons preparing for a delicate operation can benefit from the repetition offered by Virtual Reality. They can perform that surgery a hundred times until they are flawless before doing it in real life.
Immersion Training Increases Focus
A pilot going through training will sit in a cockpit simulator staring at instruments. While being able to fly by instruments is very important, the feeling of being in a fake cockpit in a classroom makes it hard to focus on something like that.
Immersing yourself in a virtual world with all the sites and sounds that make it really helps to learn that much quicker.
Looking through the window and seeing the obstruction you are trying to avoid or seeing the position of the ground to the sky makes it more realistic. The realistic surroundings help to draw the trainee into the situation. That helps them maintain their composure and figure out what they need to do.
Insights
Virtual Reality safety training does not just send a trainee into a situation and grade them on how they handle it. It can monitor everything about them and how they react.
- Their eyes can be tracked. What were they looking at? Did they notice a hazard when it presented itself, or did they take a minute?
- The heart rate can be gauged. Are they panicking in high-stress situations?
- Listening can be measured. Are they hearing warning signs? Are they reacting to threats that haven’t presented themselves yet?
All of these things can help with their VR safety training, but they can also help with developing the software. If dangers aren’t making themselves known, then the simulation can be adjusted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the evolution from traditional safety training to VR safety training marks a significant leap forward in preparing professionals for real-world challenges. VR safety training surpasses traditional methods in several key areas, offering a safer, more versatile, and immersive learning experience.
Firstly, VR training eliminates real-world risks, making it a superior choice for high-risk professions. Trainees can experience the intensity and pressure of critical situations without the actual danger, whether it’s navigating a burning building or handling hazardous materials. This risk-free environment is not only safer but also more ethical, especially in professions where errors can have dire consequences.
Secondly, the versatility and adaptability of VR training are unparalleled. Unlike traditional methods which are often rigid and limited in scope, VR allows for an endless variety of scenarios. This flexibility is crucial in preparing trainees for the unpredictability of real-life situations. From changing environments to varying levels of complexity, VR can simulate almost any scenario, providing a comprehensive training experience.
Moreover, the ability to repeat scenarios endlessly in VR is a significant advantage. Repetition is key to mastering skills, and VR allows trainees to practice as often as needed without resource constraints or logistical challenges. This aspect is particularly beneficial for jobs requiring precision and expertise, such as surgery or complex technical tasks.
Immersion in VR training enhances focus and engagement, leading to better retention of skills and knowledge. The realistic simulations in VR create an immersive experience that traditional methods can’t match, fostering deeper learning and understanding.
Furthermore, VR training offers valuable insights into trainee performance. Advanced tracking and analytics capabilities in VR environments provide detailed feedback on how trainees react and respond to various situations. This data is invaluable for both individual improvement and the continual enhancement of training programs.
In summary, while traditional safety training has laid a solid foundation for many professionals, VR safety training represents the future. It offers a safer, more immersive, and comprehensive training experience, tailored to the unpredictable and varied nature of many high-risk professions. As technology continues to advance, VR training is poised to become an indispensable tool in preparing the workforce of the future, enhancing skills, reducing risks, and ultimately saving lives.