For leading experts in virtual reality technology and the energy sector, the Apple Vision Pro price tag is a small price to pay for a more effective and safe way to train workers in hazardous environments. In collaboration with independent, non-profit energy R&D institute EPRI, Ann Arbor-based and VRARA member Oberon Technologies® has developed a spatial computing application for use with the Apple Vision Pro. The application provides a more efficient and safe way to train and orient employees for work in nuclear facilities without the associated risk to themselves, the facilities, or the surrounding communities.
While the cost of training employees is a major operating investment across industries, the energy industry sees an even higher investment due to often-hazardous work environments. Considerations like exposure to radiation, hazardous gases, high voltages or even explosions are often points of concern for the overall safety of trainees. The demand for highly skilled energy workers continues to grow, making efficiency of training and preservation of historical knowledge even more crucial to success for employers. In addition to mitigating risk, VR training allows for additional benefits like increased locational awareness, knowledge retention, unlimited use, and the opportunity for in the moment and measurable feedback.
This new application provides an immersive, spatial environment with a virtual twin of a nuclear power plant where team members can train and test staff on proper identification of hazards and potential safety issues. When using the virtual experience, users can familiarize themselves with the nuclear facility and standard procedures before going into the physical plant and avoid onsite risks. The fully immersive view can also help gauge emotional responses to confined spaces or heights.
Oberon Technologies® has provided VR applications to clients for years, helping customers to capture and convert tribal knowledge into fully immersive virtual experiences that enable faster onboarding and higher levels of knowledge retention, as well as optimizing safety for those undergoing training. “Our enterprise clients recognize the numerous benefits beyond safety during training. The immersive environments allow users to experience in minutes what may take years to encounter and perfect in the field,” said Scott Allen, CIO of Oberon Technologies®. “The clarity and interactivity of the environment possible within the Apple Vision Pro provides a more realistic experience for trainees, increasing retention rates and recall. We have all seen the gaming capabilities using Apple’s technology. We believe leveraging the same immersive, spatial environment at a corporate level will be a game changer for the industrial enterprise clients that we support,” Allen added.
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