Examples

Raypak Pool Heater Installation VR Training Experience and Mobile Tour

Using VR to demonstrate product features and mirror real-life step-by-step installation through immersive learning.

Raypak Inc. hired Groove Jones to create a VR demo for residential and commercial pool professionals to experience the steps of installing the new AVIA pool heater. The VR experience highlights the pool heater’s features and walks the user through the complete installation process.

Using VR to demonstrate product features and mirror real-life step-by-step installation through immersive learning.

It begins by teaching the user VR basics to acclimate them to the new world. After placing Raypak branded safety equipment on, the user is tasked with removing an old pool heater unit.

After removing the old pool heater, the user walks through the step-by-step process of installing the AVIA system. After placing the AVIA pool heater unit on the pad, they connect it to the existing water and gas lines.

As the user progresses through the experience, completing installation steps using their virtual hands, they are given additional instruction and guidance by a fully voiced narrator.

Once the pool heater unit is in place, and the water and gas lines are connected, an animated digital overlay highlights the pool heater’s attributes to reinforce the key selling points.

After installing the unit, the user can experience the mobile Raymote App, which connects with the pool heater and activates various enhanced features with the system.

There is significant research that shows that people learn by doing. By taking part in an experience that simulates the installation process, a person will gain more confidence in their capabilities versus just watching a demo video. The VR experience uses the HTC Vive Pro headset and controllers to fully allow the user to walk through an install and product demonstration.

Full Cast Study — https://www.groovejones.com/raypak-avia-pool-heater-installation-vr-experience-mobile-tour/

Quelle:

https://arvrjourney.com/raypak-pool-heater-installation-vr-training-experience-and-mobile-tour-e07e179359d6

16. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Using Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to Support Learning

As instructional designers continue to explore virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology, the potential applications are becoming more common and practical. This growth will have a positive effect on the contributions learning and development (L&D) make to the enterprise.

Immersive learning is disrupting old-school L&D

Clark Aldrich, in his 2009 book Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds, suggested three reasons why highly interactive virtual environments are effective for learning:

They put people “in the flow”, situating learning in the environment where it will be applied
They provide context and emotional involvement
They engage people through actual participation

Immersive learning eliminates the risk of injury, increases the immediacy of feedback, and makes it easier to track the progress of learning and identification of difficulties. Digital technology has facilitated all of these improvements.

JD Dillon has identified areas where newer technology has disrupted “old-school” L&D practices through improved methods:

Relating learning to day-to-day reality
Providing consistent, scalable learning and support experience
Getting better data and using it to improve solutions
Using AI and adaptive technology effectively
Showing impact on business results
Reducing „time to implementation“ compared to traditional training

What are the use cases for immersive learning?

There are current use cases in healthcare, equipment maintenance and repair, and safety, and in other areas that have traditionally been challenging for L&D such as compliance training, selling skills, and coaching and personal development.

The most obvious use cases for VR training are applications to the situations Clark Aldrich pointed out long ago: high-stress and emergency procedures; the opportunity to reduce job-related injuries; and to outcomes where training itself could present danger.

Some cautions about expectations

Not everyone agrees that VR training and AR are completely ready for prime time. In a recent conversation Todd Moran, chief learning strategist at NovoEd, cautioned about this. He said, “My sense is there is still a significant amount of overhyped promise of what AR and VR can deliver. It’s not to say that that technology, especially as it progresses purely on the mobile form factor and you don’t need a headset or Google Glass or Oculus to execute, doesn’t have a huge amount of potential. But I think that we’re still years off candidly. On paper you’ve written about what seemed like a noticeable uptick and execution of that training modality for frontline workers. It’s back to my original point, the barrier for entry for that right now is too slow, it’s far too high, all the other sort of equipment or technology needs. It’s not simple enough. And it’s not seamless and I think it’s neither of those things with the scant amount of time that these frontline workers have to self-educate or be edified, they’re not going to turn to that one.”

Pam Hogle has pointed out in a Learning Solutions article that discussed the potential of VR and AR environments to “create opportunities that either do not exist or are difficult or impractical to create in the physical world. This allows learners to practice behaviors that they cannot or would not practice in real-world circumstances.” These may include opportunities to practice coaching, provide feedback, and even deal with harassment or bullying, as well as resolving difficult conflicts. But she is also clear that “only a small number of studies have looked at longer-term effects; additional studies are needed.”

The important thing for L&D practitioners is to start learning now about the tools and techniques that support virtual reality and augmented reality, and to begin applying them. To delay this is to delay the benefits.

Realistic opportunities

When appropriate, virtual reality and augmented reality can be used instead of the didactic approaches to learning that have been the default of L&D. This is one of the opportunities that the evolving understanding of learning engineering may be helping us to see—“continual enterprise feedback and revision.“

As Will Thalheimer has pointed out, one of the fundamental shortcomings of the default approaches has to do with assessment of required skills and knowledge. The reason that virtual reality training can improve on the defaults is that people get continuous feedback on how they are doing, and continuous assessment that supports adaptive learning.

Opportunities VR and AR offer

Here are three ways L&D practitioners and leaders can begin to realize the benefits of virtual reality and augmented reality in training:

Future proof investment in eLearning using VR simulations, together with SME-led training within blended learning.
Apply the BUILDS framework suggested by Chad Udell and Gary Woodill in The Shock of the New to evaluate the potential uses of virtual reality and augmented reality for best effect.
Use virtual reality as a way to capture and deploy the expertise of subject matter experts (SMEs) throughout an enterprise. By doing this, VR and AR can create dramatic change in corporate competency profiles.

Quelle:

https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/using-virtual-reality-and-augmented-reality-to-support-learning

16. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

EU-Ausbildungsprogramm für Forschung in der Augenheilkunde

Der interdisziplinäre Forschungsverbund „OptiVisT“ bildet in einem europäischen Doktorandenprogramm wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs für die Augenheilkunde aus. Unter der Leitung von Michael Hoffmann wird dazu an der Universitätsaugenklinik Magdeburg geforscht und in den kommenden vier Jahren Nachwuchswissenschaftler in dem Doktorandenprogramm ausgebildet.

„In diesem Programm wollen wir den wissenschaftlichen Fortschritt im Bereich der translationalen Sehforschung stärken“, so Hoffmann. Man trainiere damit die Sehforscher von morgen. Das seien junge Wissenschaftler, die die Schnittstelle zwischen Wissenschaft, Forschung und Patientenversorgung bildeten. „Bestenfalls gründen sie anschließend ein Start-up“, so Hoffmann.

In einem der Magdeburger Projekte geht es um die Beurteilung der Sehschärfe im Kindesalter. Laut Hoffmann müssen Augenärzte sich hier bisher auf subjektive Antworten zu abstrakten Abbildungen verlassen. „Wir wollen in der Diagnostik im Gegenzug zur bisherigen Praxis mit natürlichen und für die Kinder interessanten Reizen arbeiten“, so Hoffmann.

In einem zweiten Vorhaben wollen die Magdeburger die Auswirkungen von Sehbehinderungen auf das funktionelle Sehen bei der alltäglichen Fortbewegung besser bestimmen. „Dazu erforschen wir Ansätze für neuartige visuelle Funktionstests, zum Beispiel mit Hilfe von Virtual Reality“, so Hoffmann.

Die OptiVisT-Projekte werden unter anderem von der Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, der CITY University London und dem University Medical Center Groningen durchgeführt.

Das Projekt wird mit insgesamt 4,0 Millionen Euro durch das EU-Rahmenprogramm für Forschung und Innovation – Horizont 2020 gefördert. Die Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg erhält davon rund eine halbe Million Euro. Das Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen koordiniert den Forschungsverbund. © hil/aerzteblatt.de

Quelle:

Foto: /mmphoto, stockadobecom

https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/122755/EU-Ausbildungsprogramm-fuer-Forschung-in-der-Augenheilkunde

15. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Getting Started with Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that supports a very large shift in the methods by which users can interact with media. For the past few years, most attention has been given to the consumer applications of VR in gaming. However, interest and development have been growing for applications in L&D. In this article, I will address ideas that will help you get started in virtual reality, where the applications to skill development today are most immediate.

Instructional designers and developers in general have not developed the skill sets needed to create virtual reality applications. The use cases for VR in L&D are not always clear, interest in adapting VR to training has been slow to materialize, and identifying the return on investment (ROI) from shifting appropriate instructional content to VR delivery has not been easy.

Known benefits of VR for L&D

What does VR offer in the way of benefits that can be quantified?

Most of the benefits of VR technology to learning are related to learner engagement, retention of knowledge, and transfer of skills to job performance. Instructional designers have found a number of approaches in particular for defeating the „forgetting curve“. Many of these, including the use of VR in learning experiences, improve learner engagement as a way to improve recall. „Learning by doing“ is also felt by some experts to be the most effective way to acquire procedural knowledge or skills through direct experience of carrying out a task.

There are other practical benefits that arise from the use of VR, some of which are more readily quantified:

Training on demand
Cost savings (travel, equipment requirements, onsite costs)
Faster time to proficiency
Consistency
Better human performance analysis

Use cases

In an interview published in Learning Solutions on April 24, 2019, Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, identified four situations when VR is „worth it“. These are the cases where doing something in the physical world is:

Dangerous
Impossible
Counterproductive
Expensive (and rare)

In addition to industrial training, VR is an important application for medical training, education, military and defense, and for workforce development.

Getting started

The time to start developing the skills needed to create VR is now.

The best way to start is to pick a VR technology platform and master it. The two most-used platforms are Unity and Unreal Engine, and the biggest reason for picking one of them is the number of resources available for learning them. Each platform offers its own distinct advantages, depending on the type of applications you want to develop. Study the websites carefully before making a decision. Don’t try to do both at the same time, especially when you are just beginning. Depending on your decision, you will also need to learn either C# (for Unity) or C++ (for Unreal).

You may also want to look for online information about the development of virtual reality and about current work being done.

Voices of VR: podcast interviews featuring artists, storytellers, and technologists driving virtual & augmented reality.
Upload: news and ideas

Unity Technologies offers hundreds of hours of Unity Learn training. This will require a dedicated effort to complete, over an extended period, even with strong motivation.

Unreal Engine also offers extensive training and support, and requires a similar level of effort.

You may instead want to use other online training resources, such as Udemy’s courses that include training on Unity and Unreal Engine, as well as on Vuforia and Game Development fundamentals.

Quelle:

https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/getting-started-with-virtual-reality

15. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Chris Koomen goes hands-on with Oculus For Business

Chris Koomen is a Virtual Reality specialist and consultant at KLM, a Dutch airline company. He is a very smart professional, and he’s very passionate about AR and VR technologies, and for this reason, I have already interviewed him on my blog. Because of his work, he finds himself working every day on XR headsets in professional settings, and he was one of the first people to share a photo of the Oculus Quest 2 For Business on my Linkedin feed.

Since he’s one of the few people I know that is working with Oculus For Business, I thought it could be a great idea to ask him what’s his opinion on the enterprise program by Facebook and get some first-hand impressions about it. Then we thought it could have been an even better idea to share his findings with all the VR community, so you all could have a better understanding of this program, which yesterday has just seen a new update. Here you are my chat with him about Oculus For Business!

Hello Chris, nice to talk with you again. Let’s talk about Oculus For Business… can you remind my readers what is it?

klm oculus quest 2 vr — First batch of Oculus Quest 2 For Business bought by KLM (Image by Chris Koomen)

Oculus For Business is the program through which Facebook distributes Oculus Quest 2 devices to enterprise customers. Oculus for Business administrators can configure each headset centrally in a variety of ways to enhance security. For example, they can disable Wi-Fi access, set device-based PINs, and whitelist specific VR applications. (All apps are initially blacklisted by default.) If we choose, administrators also can set up their headsets to automatically receive software updates and security patches as they become available.

The hardware is the same as the consumer headset but the software is different.

For trainees, Oculus for Business helps ensure focus and productivity by eliminating many of the distractions common in consumer VR headsets. For example, social platform functions such as adding Facebook friends aren’t active in the Oculus for Business headsets, nor are other non-business elements such as gaming features, the Oculus Store, and a range of consumer media apps.

What are the advantages that Oculus For Business has given you?

We can control all the devices from one location. So if there is a headset in London for example, we can push a new update to the device where we use to sideload it. We also can control what apps are on the device and we don’t need a personal login from Facebook.

But one of the biggest advantages is the device management tool. With this, we can remotely access the device and restore any problem, if there are. (While writing this only once we needed to reset the device remotely)

Why have you picked Oculus For Business over more experienced B2B brands like Pico and HTC?

We tried both of them of course but for now, the Quest came out best for us. The HTC and Pico have issues with tracking, which is very important in the cases we use it for. Some of the users get faster motion sickness with the Pico and it was lagging when moving a bit faster.

Was it difficult to learn how to use it?

The setup of the 11 devices we have is as simple as the consumer version. Just install the app, get the devices on and open the app: it will automatically recognize up to 50 devices at the same time once you put them on. At this point, pick the headsets, and hit install. Then you wait..;) it will install automatically the latest version of Oculus For Business.

oculus quest for business — The Device Manager can show you the status of all the connected Quest headsets (Image by Chris Koomen)

Were you able to kiosk the devices? How has been your experience with it?

You can Kiosk the devices. To do so you need to go to the device manager which is in the Facebook Workspace environment. From there you can configure all kinds of settings. But we don’t use that. All the apps we build are installed on the device with the Device Manager. Now you can do that via the Business release channel. During the upload stage, all OFB (Oculus For Business) apps will be checked for the same requirements as Oculus Store apps, but will not be reviewed by Oculus.

Can you tell me something about the Home environment in the headsets?

You are basically in a custom Oculus environment but with restricted access as a user. You can set the access limit in the device manager. When you install the app(s) you will see them as in the consumer version to select them to open.

Tell me about your experience in configuring more headsets together using the multiple devices web manager.

For me, it was one of the easiest things to do, almost just as easy as the personal device, only a few more at the same time. Don’t forget to put them on power, they are installing just 3 or 4 at the same time so it could take a while before the last one is up to date..;) In case a problem occurs, just reset the device and it will try to install again.

oculus for business app manager — It is possible to easily install the same app on all the connected device (Image by Chris Koomen)

Have you ever had the need for assistance? And if yes, have they been fast in answering you?

Haha, for technical reasons about the devices, no. But for software, we had some questions, like we had specific wishes like a player, and after some short meetings whit the Facebook team they added the player. No big deal at all. And even now with the latest update, they added some of our suggestions.

Is it true that you “lose control” of the device? Could you still use it as your personal device?

Once you set it up as an enterprise device, you can’t change it back to a consumer one, but..

…if you connect it to your personal Oculus app instead of the Oculus For Business app, it will boot as a consumer device. After restoring it to factory settings you’ll be able to boot it as an enterprise again.

Small side note… even if booted as an enterprise device, you can use the headset with Oculus link, and it will start as your personal device. (If the admin allowed you to do so)

oculus for business hands on — The Quest 2 is a great enterprise headset (Image by Facebook)

What about your data? What’s your view on Facebook Workplace? Is it safe?

Oculus collects device-specific data required for the provisioning and remote management of its VR headsets, including the device serial numbers associated with each organization; user IDs; names and emails of administrators authorized to manage the headsets; device health information (such as battery life and last-time active); and various configuration settings. This information helps it correct any errors or problems that may occur.

If you have to describe the pros and cons of Oculus For Business, what would you say?

I’ll guess it’s different for every use case, it depends on so many things. For us, it was the best solution on the market. We didn’t want to be tethered, and we needed to be flexible and manageable. The Pico had tracking issues and created a lot of sickness and HTC Focus wasn’t good enough in controller tracking. I’m not saying they are bad devices, but our consumers are critic of these subjects and we don’t want them to complain, because a bad experience would result in a loss of adoption.

It is also worth a mention saying that when something breaks, Oculus will send you a new one within 48 hours, which is included in the fee you pay yearly.

Pros:

Easy to set up in any space.
Easy to use and setup.
Easy to use device management system.
Best enterprise solution for now.
Great performance for an HMD stand-alone.

Cons:

No IPD slider. Which is much easier to use especially when you use it on a large group.
No rechargeable battery in the controllers. How good would it be to recharge them with the same USB cable as the Quest? It would be not only user-friendly but also much better for the environment.
The standard head strap is not good for enterprise use. These people must wear it for a long period and if something is annoying you, you’ll stop using it.

While writing this there was a software update: now you can upload your app via the business release channel, before that you’ll need to download it from an external hosting service.

klm vr — One of the VR experiences developed by KLM and on which Chris has worked on (Image by KLM)

If you had to advise Oculus For Business to a friend, would you do it?

As always, take a good look at your case and demand. VR is a tool, not a solution. If you have a small company, see if there are other solutions. If you need to access the headsets remotely because the headsets are all over the world, and you need the best tracking performance, Oculus is where you end now.

Anything else to add?

There are certainly things to improve and we will continue working with Facebook to get the best out of it.

None of this is sponsored in any way, these are my findings on the Oculus Quest 2 Wnterprise used at AF/KLM KLM Cityhopper: https://news.klm.com/klm-cityhopper-introduces-virtual-reality-training-for-pilots/

I really thank Chris for the amazing insights on Oculus For Business. And if you have any questions about this solution, feel free to ask them here in the comments, and Chris and I will try to answer them!

Quelle:

Chris Koomen goes hands-on with Oculus For Business

(Header image by Facebook)

14. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Mit Biolum zum Meeresgrund abtauchen

IKO, Reynard Film und Prefrontal Cortex haben eine VR-Erfahrung namens «Biolum» in der Entwicklung, mit der man als Nutzer zum Meeresgrund abtauchen kann, um spannende und teils bizarre Welten zu entdecken.

«Biolum» ist laut den Machern ein interaktives und narratives VR-Science-Fiction-Erlebnis, das VR-User in die geheimnisvolle Schönheit der Tiefsee eintauchen lässt. Der Tauchgang nimmt allerdings eine schockierende Wendung zum Schlechten. Als Tiefseetaucherin Rachael wird man in einem Sicherheitslift mehrere hunderte Meter in die Tiefe hinabgelassen, doch dann erlischt das Licht.

«Inspiriert von der Schönheit der Tiefsee, verwischt Biolum die Grenzen zwischen biologischer Wahrheit sowie Science-Fiction und greift existenzielle Themen und das kosmische Wunder des grossen Unbekannten auf,» heisst es. «Biolum» wird im Oktober 2021 für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality und Valve Index erscheinen. Die interaktive VR-Erfahrung soll zirka 25 Minuten dauern.

Quelle:

Mit Biolum zum Meeresgrund abtauchen

14. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Wallace State Community College utilizing Virtual Reality to train workers for roles in diesel tech jobs

Wallace State Community College, one of the largest colleges in the Alabama Community College System serving more than 6,000 students, has this week announced the launch of a new initiative that will utilize virtual reality(VR) technology to train thousands of workers for roles in diesel tech jobs.

Delivered through the college’s ‘Diesel by Distance’ program and built-in collaboration with immersive learning startup TRANSFR, the partnership will expand access to career-relevant training and help working adults launch careers in the diesel technology industry.

“As we work to help meet Alabama’s statewide workforce goals and get people into the many skilled trades with unfilled jobs, diesel technology is a key industry facing a serious shortage of talent,” said Dr. Vicki Karolewics, President of Wallace State Community College. “Through this next generation approach to technical training, we have an opportunity to meet a pressing need for employers, while getting those in search of work into secure and good-paying jobs. The integration of simulation-based technology into this program is helping to generate new interest in the program and the careers in diesel tech, more broadly.”

Diesel by Distance will now feature hands-on virtual reality simulations that recreate the working environment of a diesel technician or mechanic. In the simulations, developed by TRANSFR, students learn, practice, and master skills that are essential to the construction, manufacture, repair, and maintenance of diesel engine vehicles.

Mark Colson, President & CEO, Alabama Trucking Association, commented: “At a time when the need for skilled diesel techs is growing, the Diesel by Distance program will create the pipeline of well-qualified talent that our industry needs. The use of VR has brought the real-world experience of diesel tech into the classroom, ensuring students can be ready to get to work on day one.”

Launched in late 2020, Wallace State’s Diesel by Distance program combines self-paced coursework and fully online training that enables students to earn a certificate or degree in diesel technology. Students enrolled in the program can study from anywhere—even on the road, with live feedback and training from instructors—while they participate in paid apprenticeships that allow them earn while they learn.

“All skills gaps are local, and what we’ve heard clearly from industry is the need to augment traditional classroom instruction with the first-hand work experience that so often only on-the-job training can offer,” said Bharani Rajakumar, founder and CEO of TRANSFR. “As a true partnership between educators and industry leaders, Diesel by Distance has bridged the gap between work-based learning and classroom instruction, accelerating pathways to good-paying jobs for thousands of workers.”

Furthermore, through a partnership with the Alabama Trucking Association and a network of other diesel trucking and automotive employers in the states, students will receive job placement assistance, ensuring that graduates can smoothly transition directly into good-paying diesel tech jobs after completing their training.

For more information about the Diesel by Distance program, click here. For more information on TRANSFR and its virtual reality training and simulation solutions, please visit the company’s website.

Quelle:

https://www.auganix.org/wallace-state-community-college-utilizing-virtual-reality-to-train-workers-for-roles-in-diesel-tech-jobs/

Image credit: Wallace State Community College / Twitter

14. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Digitalisierte Baustelle: So arbeiten Projektbeteiligte virtuell zusammen

Mittlerweile haben sich Konzepte, um in virtuellen Räumen zusammenzuarbeiten, in vielen Branchen bewährt. Doch was ist mit der Baustelle?

Das Technologie-Start-up immersight aus Ulm hat eine neuartige, digitale Lösung für die Baustelle entwickelt.
Sie soll es ermöglichen, die Baustelle nicht nur zu dokumentieren, sondern auch jederzeit in 3D zu besichtigen und dort mit Mitarbeitern und Partnern virtuell zusammenzuarbeiten.

Vor fünf Jahren hat immersight eine Software für virtuelle Ausstellungen präsentiert, die erste ihrer Art. Mittlerweile haben sich der 3D-Showroom und das Konzept, mit virtuellen Räumen Endkunden zu beraten, in vielen Branchen fest etabliert. Doch was ist mit der Baustelle? Müssen wirklich alle Besprechungen vor Ort sein und verschiedene Personen und Beteiligte anfahren? Kann man sich auch virtuell in der Baustelle treffen und vielleicht sogar in der Zeit zurück reisen , also nachschauen wie Unterputz vor drei Wochen die Leitungen verlegt wurden, bevor nun verputzt und gefliest wurde? Kann der Bauleiter jeden Abend einen virtuellen Rundgang durch die Baustelle machen und seine Mitarbeiter aus der Ferne einweisen und betreuen?

3D-Workroom: Neues Konzept für die virtuelle Baustelle

Hierfür hat die immersight GmbH eine weitere Neuheit entwickelt. Beim 3D-Workroom handelt es sich um das neue Konzept virtueller Baustellen. Orts- und zeitunabhängige Begehungen der Baustelle, auch zeitlich rückwirkend, helfen allen Beteiligten bei der Zusammenarbeit. Eine Reihe von Tools, wie zum Beispiel die Vermessung im virtuellen Raum, helfen dabei, sich abzusprechen und gemeinsam zu inspizieren. Die Neuheit ist nicht nur der Auftakt der zweiten Produktsparte von immersight, sondern markiert auch den Startschuss für die nun beginnende Entwicklung weiterer Tools und Features für die Digitalisierung der Baustelle.

Der 3D-Workroom wird in einer eigens hierfür eingerichteten Webinar-Reihe im deutschsprachigen Raum allen Handwerksbetrieben vorgestellt.

Bild: Produktneuheit 3D-Workroom von immersight. Orts- und zeitunabhängige Begehungen von Baustellen, auch zeitlich rückwirkend, helfen allen Beteiligten bei der Zusammenarbeit. Bildquelle: immersight GmbH.

Weitere Informationen: https://immersight.com/3d-workroom/

Quelle:

Digitalisierte Baustelle: So arbeiten Projektbeteiligte virtuell zusammen

13. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Daimler investiert in Digital Factory Campus

Der Daimler-Konzern baut ein Kompetenzzentrum für Digitalisierung im globalen Mercedes-Benz Produktionsnetzwerk auf.

Einen zweistelligen Millionenbetrag investiert der Automobilkonzern Daimler in den Standort Berlin-Marienfelde. Das dortige Werk ist der älteste Standort im weltweiten Powertrain-Produktionsverbund der Marke Mercedes-Benz. Es soll nun zu einem Digitalisierungskompetenzzentrum im globalen Produktionsnetzwerk umgebaut werden. Der Konzern spricht von einem Digital Factory Campus für die Entwicklung, Erprobung und Implementierung von Software-Applikationen.

Im Zentrum steht dabei Mercedes-Benz Cars Operations 360 (MO360). Das ist eine Gruppe von Anwendungen, die durch gemeinsame Schnittstellen und einheitliche Benutzeroberflächen verbunden sind und mit Echtzeitdaten die weltweite Fahrzeugproduktion von Mercedes-Benz Cars unterstützen sollen. Das Unternehmen bezeichnet MO360 als digitales Ökosystem, das Transparenz und Effizienz in der komplexen Fahrzeugproduktion herstellen soll.

Trainings mit Virtual- und Augmented-Reality-Werkzeugen

Berlin-Marienfelde, wo bisher konventionelle Antriebskomponenten hergestellt werden, wird künftig in einer realen Produktionsumgebung Software entwickeln, erproben und validieren. Daimler beginnt zunächst mit dem Aufbau von Pilotlinien und Testzellen. Thematisch geht es dabei zum Beispiel um die vorausschauende Wartung in der Produktion mit Hilfe künstlicher Intelligenz (KI). Daimler will diesen Standort zum Trainings- und Qualifizierungszentrum für alle Mercedes-Benz Werke weltweit machen. Der neue Campus soll digitale Trainingstools inklusive Virtual und Augmented Reality nutzen. Alles zu Augmented Reality auf CIO.de Alles zu Künstliche Intelligenz auf CIO.de Alles zu Virtual Reality auf CIO.de

Daimler stellt seinen Geschäftsbereich Mercedes-Benz Drive Systems unter das Ziel „Electric First“. Das Berliner Werk wird sich auf Komponenten der E-Mobilität konzentrieren, während die konventionelle Motoren- und Komponentenproduktion schrittweise auslaufen soll.

Jörg Burzer, Mitglied des Vorstands der Mercedes-Benz AG, Produktion und Supply Chain, sagt: „Mit der Entwicklung modernster MO360 Software und der Qualifizierung all unserer Mitarbeiter im Bereich Digitalisierung spielt der Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus eine wichtige Rolle in unserem globalen Produktionsnetzwerk.“ Alles zu Digitalisierung auf CIO.de

Daimler AG | Digital Factory Campus
Branche: Automobil
Use Case: Digitalisierung der Produktion, Qualifizierung der Mitarbeiter
Standort: Berlin-Marienfelde
Produkt: Mercedes-Benz Cars Operations 360 (MO360), Software zur Vernetzung
Investitionsvolumen: zweistelliger Millionen-Euro-Betrag

Quelle:

https://www.cio.de/a/daimler-investiert-in-digital-factory-campus,3657233

Foto: In Berlin-Marienfelde steht das älteste Werk im Powertrain-Produktionsverbund der Marke Mercedes-Benz.
Foto: Daimler AG

13. April 2021 0 comment

Examples

Goodwill And Accenture Are Using VR To Help Former Prisoners

Project Overcome looks to help the recently-incarcerated prepare for today’s workforce using VR technology.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 10,000 incarcerated individuals are released from state and federal prison every week. That tallies up to over 650,000 ex-prisoners per year. One of the biggest challenges is transitioning these individuals—some of whom incarcerated for over 10 years—back into a society where they can reenter today’s workforce.

To offer some much-needed assistance in this area, Goodwill has partnered with Accenture to create Project Overcome, an innovative program designed specifically for ex-prisoners that uses VR as a tool to prepare them for the process of searching, applying, interviewing, and hopefully landing a job after prison.

Through VR, individuals in the Project Overcome program experience mock interviews with virtual HR managers. Here they learn how to speak comfortably about their incarceration as well as learn how to operate modern technologies.

Similar to how companies are using VR and AR to help recruit, train, and connect with their employees, Project Overcome is leveraging the immersive capabilites of VR technology to educate users on important life skills that can lead to individual success.

Each VR scenario offers multiple pathways; success or failure depends entirely on the choices made by the user. The ability to fail without real-world consequences lets individuals learn from their mistakes in a stress-free environment.

“Project Overcome helps individuals through a unique experience so they can feel empowered to tell their own narratives about their backgrounds to prospective employers,” said Steven C. Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International in an official press release. “People impacted by the justice system often experience inequities over the course of their lives coupled with limited work experience and little to no financial resources, stable housing or support systems. This program offers the possibility for the trajectory of their lives to change and allows them to reestablish themselves as contributing members to their communities.”

Not only does Project Overcome give individuals VR scenarios, but it also blends coaching sessions with a career counselor into the program, giving them a more personalized learning platform. Each VR experience is based on authentic real-world scenarios catering specifically to those formerly incarcerated by the justice system.

Dan Guenther, extended reality lead at Accenture, talked about the program, saying, “Project Overcome demonstrates how VR technologies can be applied to practical, real-world challenges, in this case, by simulating the high-stress job interview situation and allowing users to roleplay in a risk-free environment. The instant, interactive feedback provided allows users to refine or rework their approaches, building the muscle memory and confidence required to successfully interview in person and enter the workforce.”

Project Overcome is currently accessible via Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets, although the tool could be refactored for other VR headsets. The developers have also developed a 2D version that can be used on a computer or tablet.

Unfortunately, out of the 650,000 people released into society, almost two-thirds are rearrested. Goodwill and Accenture are looking to reduce that number through Project Overcome.