Business Info - issue 135

01732 759725 magazine 19 TRAINING which can have a big knock-on effect on productivity. Getting up to speed Speed of learning is another big benefit of VR. Researchers at Google Daydream Labs ran a small experiment teaching people how to use an espresso coffee machine. One group learned how to operate the machine using VR, while the other followed a video tutorial on YouTube. The VR users learned faster and better; they needed less training time and made fewer mistakes once they started making coffee in the real world. The experiment did have some downsides, as Ian MacGillivray software engineer at Google, reported: “No matter what warning we flashed if someone virtually touched a hot steam nozzle, they frequently got too close to it in the real world, and we needed a chaperone at the ready to grab their hand away.” This suggests that gamification might make people less aware of the risks they could encounter in real life and led MacGillivray to conclude that VR is a useful way to introduce people to a new skill that they can practice and hone virtually, having first tried it in the real world. An economical choice VR/AR training might seem like an expensive option, with the upfront cost of hardware (headsets/smart glasses) and the need to develop a bespoke virtual training environment either in- house, using a solution like Stage from vr-on, or by employing a specialist VR/ AR software company. However, Cangelosi points out that that when you factor in other considerations AR/VR can be an economical choice. “Businesses that invest in smart technologies, such as AR, to promote further training are saving money by DHL delivers virtual training Logistics company DHL is using the Oculus Rift to provide employees with an immersive learning experience. Thanks to a virtual learning world built by British virtual reality start-up Immerse, users can move between a DHL aircraft, facility and renewal area and interact with numerous objects in the scene. Oculus headsets and handsets allow users to simulate moving and stacking boxes, operating cargo lifts and meeting virtual avatars of colleagues from around the world. Rick Jackson, Global Head of CIS DHL Express, said: "This is about simulating complicated scenarios in our operating environment. It provides a realistic way to practice skills and interact with global colleagues using role play and gamification.We see VR as a powerful tool for employee engagement and motivation. This is the first stage of a three-year process of embedding VR at the centre of how we build and train teams across our global network." Sodexo cuts food waste with VR In September last year, outsourcing company Sodexo enhanced the safety training of kitchen staff in Shanghai with VR. To help them learn to recognise and correct safety risks that could lead to cuts, burns, trips or falling objects, Sodexo employees wearing HTC Vive headsets step into a virtual kitchen and help a virtual chef carry out his duties. The use of VR has reduced the length of training sessions from one hour to 5 minutes; removed the limitation of space, materials and training staff; and avoided the significant waste of food in face-to-face training. AR can bring together remote teams so that businesses can communicate effectively with staff in multiple locations, in real-time, interactively recognising the talent they already employ and upskilling their current workforce, rather than spending valuable resources recruiting new employees,” she explained. “AR can bring together remote teams so that businesses can communicate effectively with staff in multiple locations, in real-time, interactively. They can visualise everything as if they were all in the room together, which in turn boosts productivity, encourages collaboration, saves on travel costs and helps to maintain an engaged workforce.” HTC Vive's Fontaine says the time and cost savings can be quite significant when you consider the impact training can have on existing operations. “VR training offers savings on the operational side. Say, for example, you want to train employees on a car production line.With VR you don’t need to install a real machine for the training; you don’t need to stop the production line either. One large automotive customer mentioned they reduced the individual training time by 30% using VR and were also able to train a lot more employees in parallel,” he said. VR/AR offers endless possibilities for upskilling existing staff and teaching new hires the skills they need for their role in a safe and engaging way. It's early days for commercial applications, but as VR/AR technology becomes more advanced and more affordable, it could revolutionise the way employees learn across all industries. www.abiresearch.com CASE STUDY CASE STUDY 1 VR in Enterprise Training , ABI Research, 2017 Epson Moverio