VR and AR for Digital Training
The adoption of new technologies across industries has been the norm in recent times. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are two technologies organizations have increasingly adopted for E-Learning / Digital Training at the moment.
Before becoming the go-to technologies for training, VR and AR were best known as technologies used for video gaming.
Oculus and Pokemon GO are VR companies and AR mobile games, respectively, that made waves in the video gaming industry. Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion, while Pokemon GO was a hit AR mobile game.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for E-Learning / Digital Training
Now, the potential of VR and AR has extended beyond video games. Enterprise use of the technologies has grown significantly, with the revenue from these technologies expected to be about $75 billion by 2023.
1) Advantages of AR and VR in corporate training
The benefits of these technologies are driving their increased adoption across industries. Here are some of the benefits of VR and AR in corporate Digital Training.
a) Safe learning environments
With VR, safe e-learning environments are created. As such, digital training programs that require high-risk environments can be carried out without endangering the lives of the trainees and participants. The feature can also be applied to ensure enhanced efficiency. This is because training will not be carried out in the real world where mistakes could impact productivity and efficiency but in an e-learning environment.
b) Remote work
Immersive technologies equip organizations for remote work. With the enhanced requirement of remote work and collaboration, VR especially contributes to the creation of the ideal remote work environment.
With VR headsets, for example, employees are empowered to collaborate with colleagues while telecommuting and e-training.
c) Efficiency
Improved efficiency is guaranteed with immersive technologies. The improved efficiency can be associated with the enhanced retention rate of training. Research has indicated that immersive technologies can improve retention rates by about 25%.
Cost-effectiveness is also associated with immersive technologies and is another way organizations can improve their overall efficiency. The application of immersive technologies is much cheaper than the creation of real-life training environments. Even if huge costs are incurred during the initial procurement of the required tools and materials, the costs are recouped from the varying application.
Efficiency can also be related to the analytical nature of immersive technologies. VR and AR can be automatically applied to gather insights about training sessions and activities.
2) Downsides of the application of AR/VR
The application of VR/AR is not without its drawbacks and limitations. Here are some of them.
a) Health side effects
Long periods of activity in environments simulated with VR can come with health side effects. For example, nausea and dizziness could result when one engages in prolonged VR sessions. It is noteworthy that developers are well aware of these side effects and are working to combat them.
b) Initial costs
The average VR headset costs hundreds of dollars. There are also the costs of learning management systems, which are required for creating the ideal learning environment.
It is noteworthy that the initial costs of the application of VR/AR in learning can be offset by the associated long-term benefits.
c) Bulky tools requirement
The application of VR/AR in online learning requires tools that are generally considered bulky, giving the level of advancement seen in other forms of technologies. Much more can still be done as regards the portability of VR/AR tools for online learning.
3) Application of VR/AR for online learning
Immersive technologies have been applied in training employees in high-risk environments.
There have also been widespread applications of immersive technologies in corporate training across different industries. As more organizations and industries adopt immersive technologies for training, the benefits are bound to increase and the risks/disadvantages are bound to be minimized.