Is VR for Training finally ready for Prime-Time?

It’s 6 years since the first Oculus Virtual Reality headset hit the streets. Since then VR has struggled to build a user base but is that now about to change?

The Hardware...

The first Oculus Rift headset was a revelation, VR was finally accessible. But the Rift, and the similar HTC Vive headsets, suffered from four big problems:

• They needed expensive PCs to drive them
• They needed external sensors to be set up in order to track lateral and hand movement
• Each installation could be slightly different, making it hard to deliver a solid, replicable experience
• Once you had your headset on it was hard to find the controllers and stay safely in your space

With the Oculus Quest it looks all of these problems have been solved:

• The headsets work completely standalone – so no expensive PC and also a dependable platform for a consistent experience
• There are no external sensors, the headset just uses the environment to track user head and hand controller movement
• There is a look-through video mode so you can see to pick up controllers, and see around you when you leave the “safe zone” 

All of these combine to create the easiest and most fluid VR experience we’ve ever had!

The Software...

But hardware is nothing without good software.

Teachers, trainers and tutors have had a long history of creating their own content, from drawing on chalk boards and white boards, through Letraset on OHP slides and Roneo’d handouts, to the near ubiquity of Powerpoint.

3D and VR though has long been seen as a specialist area, where niche design agencies are commissioned to create bespoke content. But this costs, and the use of third parties means (like video) that it is hard to update content and to keep it current and tailored to specific classes.

With Trainingscapes Daden is changing that. Trainingscapes is an authoring tool for immersive and 3D content which lets tutors create their own lessons from almost any PC/Mac, even when on the train, and then deliver them to students without any need to write code or to have a deep understanding of 3D. A simple drag-and-drop, what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience makes creating VR as easy we can make it.

Whilst VR is more usable and affordable than ever we recognise that it won’t suit everyone, or every task, or every location. So it’s also important that your investment in 3D isn’t constrained to VR devices. With Trainingscapes trainees and students can access the same learning from any PC, Mac, Android or iOS device (as well as VR) getting much of the benefit of VR without the hassle. And we’re even looking at how we can extend immersive 3D and VR to visually impaired users.

So with hardware, content and accessibility all coming together, we feel that VR for training is finally ready for prime-time.

Isn’t it time that you gave it a try?

For a demonstration, or more information on Trainingscapes and how immersive 3D and Virtual Reality can help train your employees, trainees and students, contact us on 0121 250 5678 or email info@trainingscapesvr.com or check out our website at www.trainingscapesvr.com.