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Virtual reality: Changing The Corporate Learning Experience - EDUCATE ENGAGE ENTERTAIN

Virtual reality:
Changing The
Corporate
Learning
Experience

EDUCATE ENGAGE ENTERTAIN
copyright©©Designing
Copyright   DesigningDigitally,
                      Digitally,  Inc.
                                Inc.    | 866.316.9126
                                     | 866.316.9126    | www.designingdigitally.com
                                                    | www.designingdigitally.com       |                1
                                                                                 | info@designingdigitally.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS
02                                                   02
          WHAT IS VIRTUAL REALITY?                              TYPES OF VR
                                                                    fully immersive
                                                                    semi-immersive
                                                                    non-immersive

03        MAIN COMPONENTS OF A VR SYSTEM
               personal computer
               head-mounted display
                                                     03         WHY IS VR A GAME CHANGER?

               input devices

04        WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
          BETWEEN VR & AR?
               How are vR and aR similar?
                                                     05         WILL VIRTUAL REALITY SPREAD ITS
                                                                WINGS IN CORPORATE LEARNING?

               how are vr and ar different

06        WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VR?

               Enhances learner engagement
                                                     08         INDUSTRIES THAT CAN BENEFIT
                                                                FROM VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING
                                                                    healthcare
               real-world environment                               retail
               safe environment                                     manufacturing
               saves costs                                          space
               Helps learner gain mastery                           real estate
               provides useful metrics

09        THE FUTURE OF VR
               fact 01
               fact 02
                                                     10         CONCLUSION
                                                                    references

               fact 03
               fact 04
               fact 05

copyright © Designing Digitally, Inc. | 866.316.9126 | www.designingdigitally.com |         1

what is virtual reality?
Virtual Reality (VR) deals with using technology to create a virtual simulated immersive environment. It
is an immersive technology and allows the human brain to be convinced that is is in an environment it really
is not. VR simulates senses like vision, hearing, touch, and so on to create a 3D world where the users are
completely immersed.

Types Of VR
Fully immersive
You need three things for a fully immersive VR experience – a detailed virtual world to explore, a high-
end computer that can detect your movements and adjust the experience in real time, and hardware like headsets,
headphones, and so on that help you immerse yourself in the virtual world. Fully immersive simulations offer realistic
experience to the user. It delivers high contrast level, enhanced update rates, and high resolutions.

Semi-immersive
Here, you are partly immersed in the virtual environment. Semi-immersive systems borrow heavily
from technologies that have been developed in the flight simulation sector. Semi immersive systems usually
comprise of a high-performance graphic system attached to a big screen monitor, projector system, and
multiple television projection systems. The projector systems are more or less similar to IMAX theatres.

Non-immersive
A flight simulator used for personal interest can be a non-immersive VR experience. An architect
might use non-immersive VR to create a 3D model of a building. 3D reconstructions can be used on the
desktop with the help of just a mouse. They may not provide you with the feeling of being in the environment,
but they are much better than pastel drawings and sufficient for the task at hand.

main components Of a VR system
Personal computer
To power the 3D environment, you need to have robust computing power. Personal computers, consoles,
and smartphones act as the engine that powers the VR content. A VR video cord is a must-have.

Head-mounted display
They are headsets or goggles with a display mounted in front of your eyes. It covers your full field
of view to display VR content. Head-mounted displays may be accompanied by headsets for a better audio
experience. Examples are Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Sarlar 3D VR, and so on.

Input devices
Input devices include joysticks,
controller wands, tracking balls, motion trackers,
trackpads, data gloves, and so on. These devices
are instrumental in convincing your brain that the
artificial environment is real. They help you navigate
the environment naturally. The resistive force or
haptic feedback that the input devices provide,
informs the users that an interaction has taken place.
This feedback becomes more important if we are
dealing with people with visual disabilities.

why is vr a game changer?
Virtual reality is something that is here to stay and revolutionize the way you work and learn. The concept
of VR may not be new but the technology that powers it up is. The main aim of technology is to improve
your lives. VR offers full sensory immersion that is a sensory treat. How would you feel if you could take a
test drive without having to visit the dealer? Or try out new clothes without having to leave the house? Mind-
blowing, right? VR can make this possible with its fully immersive capabilities.

VR can engage learners and improve the retention of learning by offering the element of experience. You

may be able to learn concepts by reading or hearing
about them, but if you can be immersed and interact
with the learning the recall and retention of concepts
grow by leaps and bounds. This experiential learning
is more applicable to complex topics. Think about
learning to fly a stealth aircraft or performing a
complex surgery. Wouldn’t you be able to learn
better if you could have hands-on experience? But,
it may not be safe to practice . This is where VR can
help. You can have the same experience in a virtual
environment without the risks involved. You can make
mistakes and learn from it without fear.

For learning to be able to transform lives, it needs
to be experiential. Online learning is mostly two
dimensional. It is not possible to utilize the power
of experiential learning with it. But, with the advent of VR, it is now possible for the learners to learn by
experience. Learners can test their skills, interact with their peers and experts, and record their work, all within
the VR environment.

VR applications offer a sea of opportunities in every facet of your lives - education, profession, tourism,
healthcare, and so on. Technology promises a digital future powered by immersive VR environments. You
should grab it!

what’s the difference between vr & ar?
Virtual and augmented reality seems to be the buzzwords of today. Both have a promising future in the
tech sector. They aim to change the way consumers will interact in the digitized space. But, not too many
people understand how they work. They get confused and use the terms interchangeably. While there may be
similarities between both, they do have sharp distinguishers.

Augmented reality (AR) uses technology to integrate digital information within the user’s existing environment
in real time. VR creates a completely artificial 3D environment, whereas AR uses the current setting and
overlays new information on it. Even though AR layers information about the real environment, it still allows
users to navigate through the real setting. A recent example of AR would be Pokemon Go. This game has
made people run all over the streets looking for imaginary creatures with their help of their smart devices.

How are vR and aR similar?
Both AR and VR leverage similar kinds of technology in order to enhance user experience. Both
provide experiences that are sought after by users for business and entertainment purposes. Leading
technology-intensive organizations are releasing products to support these technologies. Both AR and VR
have the capability to revolutionize the medical landscape by making remote surgeries a viable option.

How are vR and aR Different?
In a VR headset, there will typically be a couple of screens that you can hold to your face and view
through the lenses. The set uses sensors to track your head and body movement as you move and renders
relatable images to create the illusion of an environment that is not there. On the other hand, AR uses
glasses so that you can see the real environment as it is, and then projects digital elements. It requires less
processing power as compared to VR.

However, AR and VR are not pitted against each other. They may serve different functions, but both have a role
in the future. AR may be a step ahead of VR since there are several AR products available in the market. But
VR is catching up. “By 2020, VR and AR are expected to create around $150 billion in revenue.”

Will Virtual reality Spread Its Wings
In Corporate Learning?
If you want to beat the competition, you have to make sure that your organization does not stop learning.
Lifelong learning is a business priority as corporate learning strategy are aligned to business goals. It’s
not that organizations do not invest in learning and development of their employees. Most of the time, the
platform may not be right for the target audience. A majority of the modern workforce is made of millennials.
They prefer on-demand learning available on mobile devices. They get demotivated by linear navigation and
presentation style learning approaches.

To cater to their growing needs, organizations are repackaging their learning into different formats that make
it easy for them to filter and discover content. Also, corporations have realized that the best way to learn is by
doing. If you provide your employees with the option to practice the skills they learn, the recall and retention
are far better than learning by reading. This is called experiential learning and VR helps boost it. Experiential
learning engages most of the senses and expands the learners’ critical thinking skills. Incorporating VR into
your learning strategy helps boost the engagement of the learners. When technology speeds up the way
people learn, then educators can spend less time covering a specific topic.
If you are still unsure about the virtues of VR, then here are some facts that may help you take a decision.

The biggest advantage of VR is that it drives behavioral
changes far better than any other mode of learning.
It has been seen that training football quarterbacks
with VR have improved their decision-making ability
by almost 30 percent. Jeremy Bailenson, a Stanford
professor, found out from a study that learners retain
33 percent more from a VR experience than a standard
video experience. Yet another study showed that
participants were able to reduce their fear of public
speaking by almost 20 percent with the help of VR.

VR may be a niche segment, for now. But, with Apple’s mixed reality device, Google’s Android, and Microsoft
Hololens, there will be a surge in the market. With competition, the technology will become better and
cheaper. The cost of developing content for VR and AR is on the drop. Even though the initial cost may be
high, it evens out in the long term. Take advantage of the novelty factor and astonish your learners.

VR is here to stay and will revolutionize learning. It is not a good idea to stay on the sidelines and be a
spectator. Get ahead and develop learning for the new trend.

what are the benefits of vr?
Using VR in corporate training provides an edge to your regular corporate training. VR provides positive
benefits to both the organization and its employees. It is a win-win situation when your employees benefit
from the VR experience and pass on the benefits to the organization in the form of higher productivity and
lower cost. Here are some of the benefits to the organization and its employees.

Enhances learner engagement
VAK Learning Styles Model believes that there are three kinds of learners – visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic. VR combines these three learning styles and offers a super effective learning process. The
human brain has minimal attention span when it comes to training. If you want to keep your learners hooked
to a piece of learning, then you must offer something interesting. The workplace is full of interruptions. If
your learner loses his or her focus even for a minute, it takes a lot of time to get it back. A VR experience can
beat the usual monotony of traditional learning approaches. It is an immersive experience and keeps your
employees engaged. The more they are engaged, the higher the retention rates. If they like what they are
learning and pay attention to it, the better they will remember it. And, if they can recall their training they will
apply it to their work to enhance productivity.

Provides a real-world environment
A face-to-face or a web-based training usually involves a classroom or a computer. This style of
teaching may work to some extent, but it is not able to recreate your employee’s regular work scenario. VR changes
that immediately. Once your employees put on the headset they are transferred to a virtual world that simulates
what their typical workday may look like. This realistic environment helps them to identify with the learning and
relate to their work profile. This works particularly well for people who work at dangerous environments.

Allows a safe environment to make mistakes
Practice makes one perfect. The more you let your employees practice their skill, the better they get in
their work. The more mistakes they make, the more they learn from it. But, if you are in a profession where errors
have serious real-world consequences, then you cannot afford to make mistakes and learn from it; for example,
doctors. How will they practice their skill? VR makes it easy. It provides a controlled environment where your
learners can make as many mistakes they wish to without fear of causing damage to life and property. They receive
immediate feedback on their actions. That way they know what not to do in their real job. You as an organization
can save money by letting your employees make the mistake in the virtual world instead of their job.

Saves cost
The initial cost of VR can be costly, but not
sky high. With more competition in the market, the
prices are stabilizing further. VR equipment is a one-time
expense that evens out in the long term. You can recover
the cost faster if you are an organization with offices
in multi-locations. Your employees can use the training
as many times as they want without extra cost, and can
access it at anytime. Also, you do not have to spend
money on traditional training expenses like travel and
accommodation of learners, booking a physical venue,
hiring or buying training equipment, printing stationery,
and so on. Add to this the cost of enhancing productivity.

Helps learner gain mastery
One of the best ways to learn is to learn by doing. When you do the same thing over and over,
you become a master of that. VR helps learners gain mastery faster. This is mostly because it allows your
employees to repeat the same learning experience as many times they need. This builds their level of
confidence and it reflects in their work. So, chuck the training manual and offer a VR experience instead.

Provides useful metrics
Most training systems do not provide analytics data that are actionable. But VR training programs
provide useful metrics. It tracks how long it took for a learner to complete a particular task, which actions they
found complex, how they met their goals, and so much more. These metrics help the learning department to
improve the learner experience and get a better return-on-investment.

industries that can benefit from
virtual reality training
eLearning professionals should be excited about VR training. Here are five industries that can take advantage
of VR training and include it in their corporate strategy.

Healthcare
Healthcare professionals have an important job profile. Their skills can save lives. But, it is not
always possible for them to acquire real-world experience in their jobs. A small mistake can cause loss of life.
So, how do they gain practical knowledge and experience? This is where VR and AR come to their aid. These
tools help them practice in an interactive environment that simulates their real workplace. They can explore
the new process and experiment with existing procedures. They have the option of making mistakes and
learning from them. Their mistakes will not endanger lives since it is in a virtual environment.

Retail
Retail is a highly competitive sector and you must use digital technologies to its full advantage. You
can use VR to train your management and customer service employees. For example, you can use Oculus Rift
headsets and gaming consoles to train based on on-screen cues that guide the employee to make decisions
during rush situations and deal with repercussions. VR-based simulations can also help sales personnel
perfect their negotiation and sales skills.

Manufacturing
Another industry where wrong moves can have dire repercussions is the manufacturing industry.
If an employee is not familiar with machine controls then he might get injured or harm his coworkers,
accidentally. With VR training, they get a chance to practice and master the process. Instructors can guide
them and help them all issues promptly. This can save lives as well as cost in terms of damages that may
have occurred.

Space
NASA was one of the early adopters of VR. They used VR tools to train astronauts. They can
practice their tasks in a zero-G environment, especially spacewalking. Spacewalking is an action where
the astronaut leaves the environment of the spaceship and works on essential tasks like replacing a faulty
module. The problem here is that they do not have an idea of what to expect unless they actually do it. That
can turn out to be quite a risky proposition. But VR prepares the astronauts about what they can experience
and this can reduce the error margin to a great extent.

Real Estate
Real estate agents can use VR to tour properties and gauge suitability with clients. They do not
need to visit the sites physically. They can get a feel for the layout and adjust the plan, thereby saving a
substantial amount of time and money. They can even use VR tools to guide new hires and teach them the
tricks of the trade.

The future of VR
Here are 5 interesting facts about the VR market and what to expect in the future.

fact 01
According to tech M&A advisory firm Digi-Capital, the VR market is said to reach $30 billion by
2020. Most of the growth is expected to come from games, videos, and VR headsets.

fact 02
Between 2016 and 2022, North America will be holding the largest share of the VR market.

fact 03
VR could be the next computing platform. At least that is what Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook would
like to believe. He believes that in future, VR could be the main form of communication. It may take some time
to get there but it is not too far away.

fact 04
Google’s Cardboard app has been downloaded more than ten million times. Oculus Rift’s orders
have been delayed. This reiterates the fact that people are waking up to VR.

fact 05
If we are to believe AngelList, the start-up tracking site, then 685 VR start-ups are there at present
with an average valuation of $4.5 million.

VR is not just a passing phase. It is sure to stay on. It is molding certain industries with its immersive
experiences. It may take some time for mass acceptance. But, when the time comes the adoption can happen at
a rapid pace. Also, at present, the VR experience caters to auditory and visual senses. But, gradually it may cater
to the rest of the senses too. High-end touch sensors that break the façade of the virtual world is in the offing.

The industry is getting started with VR tools. There are a lot of unknown factors. But as companies make
relevant investments, newer technologies are being developed that help VR develop further.

ddinc virtual reality serious game
An undisclosed client approached Designing Digitally, Inc. with a unique request for training that involved
immersive learning outside of what the client was used to doing. The organization had struggled to train
electrical line workers on how to effectively clear trees without the hazards of falling timbers, property
damage, or even electrical line damage. They were looking for an innovative way of training the electrical line
workers on how to proficiently cut down the trees
around electrical lines in residential areas. They
had previously utilized Instructor Led Training
(ILT) that was informing the workers how to cut
the trees but were seeing the same number of
incidents to private property and improper cutting
of the trees around the electrical lines. As a result,
they were looking for a new and innovative learning
approach to train the electrical line workers.

After a detailed analysis, Designing Digitally,
Inc. determined the best experience would be to
immerse the learners into a 3D space in which
they could practice cutting down trees in a safe
and fun environment. A 3D virtual environment,
based around game mechanics, was developed to
provide a fun and innovative way for the learners

to practice cutting the trees around the electrical lines without impacting the bottom line of the organization,
hurting people, or damaging equipment. This immersive learning game was developed to allow the electrical
line workers to experience a day in the life of doing their jobs in a residential location. This is to ensure that
the learners get a real to life as possible experience while making it fun for them to test their skills sets. There
are built in branching situations, scenarios, and game mechanics that allow for an engaging, educational, and
entertaining learning experience.

Designing Digitally, Inc. replicated costly incidents that the company has faced in the past in addition to

they are likely to face. The training opens with a tutorial that also assesses the learner. They are then placed
in a tier based on their results. As they advance through the training the information they are provided and
scenarios they face varies based on the decisions they make. In this space mistakes result in the learner
receiving more information and practice rather than loss of property, or worse.

This learning experience uses VR technology to allow this learning to take place using the Oculus Rift, HTC
Vive, or other major VR hardware systems. The system was implemented within the training department at the
client’s headquarters to allow them to conduct hands on training with the students during the Instructor Led
Training portion of their on-the-job learning. The development was created in a 3D gaming engine that allowed
for a fully immersive experience which included 3D spatial sound, haptic feedback through hand devices, and
immersion through the Virtual Reality headset unlike another other training experience prior.

The development of this VR Serious Game has provided the client with a learn-by-doing experience that
now can be used in conjunction with the Instructor Led Training, and as a fun learning experience for
future new hires at the organization. Overall, this VR immersive learning game has decreased liability for
the organization, which will directly result in a bigger bottom line and fewer expenses paid due to personal
property damage, company property damage, and electrical line violations.

conclusion
If you are interested in developing a Virtual Reality Solution, consider partnering with the award-winning team

phases. Contact one of our Learning Solutions Specialists today to learn more about our capabilities and
partnership opportunities.

references
 https://appreal-vr.com/blog/10-virtual-reality-business-opportunities/
 https://apiumhub.com/tech-blog-barcelona/virtual-reality-technology/
 http://www.augment.com/blog/virtual-reality-vs-augmented-reality/
 https://www.cbinsights.com/research/ar-vr-industries-disrupted-beyond-gaming/
 https://www.citylab.com/life/2017/01/why-virtual-reality-may-become-part-of-your-job/511994/
 https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-09-07-how-virtual-reality-can-close-learning-gaps-in-your-classroom
 https://www.efrontlearning.com/blog/2016/09/industries-benefit-virtual-reality-training.html
 https://elearningindustry.com/tips-use-virtual-reality-online-training
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 https://employmenthero.com/2017/06/22/virtual-reality-will-shape-the-future-of-employment/
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 Revolution-Right-Now
 https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/11/the-reality-of-vrar-growth/
 https://touchstoneresearch.com/infographic-virtual-reality-in-the-workplace/
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copyright © Designing Digitally, Inc. | 866.316.9126 | www.designingdigitally.com |                                   12

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