Modern technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality can offer immersive learning experiences that can be used to train learners of different ages for different purposes, effortlessly.
In the digital era, modern technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality have transformed business practices, entertainment, and day-to-day lives. Likewise, immersive technologies have evolved education by enabling immersive learning experiences. However, education isn't limited to academics. Learning new skills, traveling to exotic locations, and exploring interactive stories are non-conventional forms of education that are offered by immersive technologies. Hence, immersive technologies are being widely adopted across the globe.
Businesses can use AR and VR-powered immersive learning to train freshers as well as experienced employees. AR and VR can be used to simulate workplace and on-field scenarios that can test an employee's ability to handle different situations. Using these immersive technologies, organizations can train their employees in handling stress and making correct decisions by replicating real-world scenarios. As a result, employees can learn different skills and be prepared for different workplace situations.
Immersive Learning with AR and VR
Businesses can utilize AR and VR-powered immersive learning in the following manner:
Medical Training
The applications of immersive technologies like AR and VR have shown untold potential in the healthcare industry. One of these applications is medical training for students and practitioners. For this purpose, AR and VR can offer an immersive learning experience with the help of interactive 3D models of the human body. Using these 3D anatomical models, medical students and practitioners can perform simulated surgeries and other medical procedures. These simulated environments can also mimic physical sensations that are felt during a medical procedure with the help of haptic feedback. In this manner, medical training simulations can reproduce real-world scenarios to educate students about various situations in medical institutions. Also, with the help of VR-powered simulations, students can experience the symptoms of certain disorders, helping them gain empathy towards patients.
Pilot Training
Every pilot spends months in training for private or commercial flights. These training programs include computer-based simulations to prepare pilots for different flying scenarios. Some airlines also prepare real cockpits that are connected to large screens for flight simulations. These simulations have been effectively used for pilot training for decades. However, obtaining the bulky and expensive equipment required for such simulations can be a major challenge. Virtual reality headsets can offer an immersive learning experience, where pilots can get a 360-degree interactive simulation. These simulations can emulate a cockpit and replicate the surrounding areas. Such flight simulations can train pilots for various real-world scenarios and emergency situations. In this manner, airlines can ensure that pilots can effortlessly control an aircraft and keep passengers calm during emergency situations.
Battlefield Simulations
Reports suggest that the number of soldiers that die during training is higher compared to that of combat. Hence, military organizations need to find ways to conduct safer training programs. To conduct safer training programs, military organizations can utilize VR-powered battlefield simulations. These simulations can create realistic surroundings such as dense jungles, deserts, and arctic regions. Also, battlefield simulations can train soldiers for extreme conditions like facing fighter jets, jumping from parachutes, and defending against tanks. Such simulations can also include training weapons that are equivalent in size, shape, and weight of real weapons. Military organizations can train air force pilots for aerial battles using VR-based battle simulations. These battle simulations can help pilots develop skills such as coordinating with ground support, defending against enemies, and attacking various targets. These VR-based simulations can include enclosed systems with hydraulics to provide feedback for a pilot’s actions. Additionally, such simulations can also train soldiers in operating ground vehicles, infantry carriers, tanks, and mortar vehicles in different types of weather conditions and terrains.
Compliance training
Immersive learning technologies like AR and VR can train employees for compliance and safety. With these technologies, employees can interact with virtual objects in immersive and realistic environments. For instance, organizations can create realistic scenarios like a conflict of interest with a client, where a client also offers a bribe. In such situations, organizations can evaluate an employee’s decision-making skills and their reactions. Such scenarios can also be used to ensure that employees understand the repercussions of making wrong decisions. Also, compliance training programs can be used to train employees for workplace safety by simulating different workplace hazards.
Interactive Walkthroughs
Interactive walkthroughs can make VR-based immersive learning even more informative. Interactive walkthroughs can be used for breaking down complex procedures into smaller tasks and allowing employees to study every task. In such walkthroughs, employees can observe how every task is performed and execute those tasks by themselves in a virtual environment. These walkthroughs can allow employees to understand which skills are required for a specific job and how they can learn those skills. Also, interactive walkthroughs can help employees identify mistakes in their current approach of executing a task and suggest more efficient ways of performing complicated tasks.
Product Demos
Generally, product demos include pictures and videos that display a product’s features. Such product demos may not provide the full description of a product, making it hard to pitch that product to clients. Alternatively, businesses can use immersive technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality for enabling employees to interact with the virtual form of a product. With a virtual product demo, employees can explore different features of a product and various components in detail. With such detailed information, employees can understand which features can be appealing for clients or customers and create a sales pitch accordingly.
Sales Scavenger Hunts
Organizations can set up unique immersive learning programs for their sales personnel with the help of AR scavenger hunts. Such AR scavenger hunts can utilize geolocation to place virtual objects across the workplace. Employees can find these virtual objects to discover tutorials, educational activities, and other online resources that can help improve their skills. Such scavenger hunts can also test a sales personnel’s product knowledge by asking questions regarding the highest selling products and relevant product recommendations for certain customers. In this manner, organizations can utilize innovative methods of training their sales staff and helping them update their business knowledge.
Emergency Drills
Usually, organizations conduct emergency drills to train their employees for incidents like fires. These drills generally simulate real-world scenarios to ensure that employees learn about different safety measures. However, these drills can be quite limited as many scenarios cannot be practically recreated. Organizations can utilize augmented reality and virtual reality to simulate realistic emergencies and test their ability to handle chaotic situations. Such simulations can train employees in handling stress during emergencies and executing necessary safety measures.
Many experts have discussed the impact of automation on the job market. Employees fear that robots may acquire their jobs and take over the job market. However, automation will also give rise to numerous jobs and new roles that have never existed before. But, employees will require extensive training to cover the skill gap between their previous and new job roles. Such training can be made simpler with the help of AR and VR-based immersive learning. Also, AR and VR-based learning can help employees understand how they can adapt to and work with modern technologies such as AI to create an interdependent relationship between humans and technology.
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