Two decades ago, virtual reality still belonged to the realm of science fiction; a theoretical conceit, underpinning pop-culture juggernauts like “The Matrix” and William Gibson’s seminal cyberpunk novel “Neuromancer”. Today, the technology necessary to create and enjoy immersive virtual experiences is increasingly accessible and affordable. Forward thinking companies across a wide range of industries are making use of this tech, most notably as a training tool.
If you are an HR Manager, Instructional Designer, or Chief Learning Officer, VR warrants a closer look. Consider these four examples.
For Onboarding
Honeygrow, a fast-casual restaurant chain, is using VR to train new employees with an engaging instructional experience. Have a look.
For Skills Training
UPS is also exploring interesting ways to use this immersive technology. The company has started to train student delivery drivers to spot and identify road hazards using VR headsets. Check out this demo.
For Safety Training
Insurance company Texas Mutual developed a VR training app, featuring four 360° safety instructional videos, to raise awareness about general safety rules on construction sites. Here’s a taste.
For the Classroom
In 2015, Google introduced Expeditions, a program that provides VR experiences for school classrooms. Expeditions allows educators to take students on virtual field trips. Here’s a brief overview of how it works.
The numbers of organizations adopting this new training tactic grows by the day. As the technology continues to evolve, so does its potential as an instructional tool. Isn’t it time you took advantage of it as well?
If you’re still on the fence, Brella Learning’s Co-founder Mark Mallchok will be presenting on this very topic at the 2019 Training magazine Conference and Expo in Orlando, February 25-27. If you can’t make it down there, contact us, and we will be happy to walk you through exactly what makes this the most exciting innovation in training tech today.