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So far Amanda Towner has created 185 blog entries.

Serious Labs launches Aerial Virtual Reality Training Simulator

Serious Labs launched its new Aerial Virtual Reality Training Simulator. The simulator combines Serious Labs’ new scissor lift modules with its boom lift modules to provide a comprehensive aerial operator training solution for the rental industry. “The labor force is changing,” said Jim Colvin, CEO, Serious Labs. “Millennials are entering the workforce and they prefer to learn in a different way. Immersive VR simulations provide the perfect learning medium where these new operators can explore realistic job site environments and safely test the limits of equipment in dangerous situations. Simulators were previously only available in industries such as aviation, but they are ideal for the construction industry where safety and competency are paramount.” The new scissor lift modules consist of 18 training scenarios on slab and diesel rough terrain scissor lifts. There are also 16 articulating boom lift scenarios. The simulations progressively become more challenging, isolating tasks around driving, lifting, platform positioning and operating. Each module will take the novice approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to complete; a seasoned professional about 45 minutes. Metrics provide feedback about the operator’s performance, showing weaknesses and strengths. The scissor lift scenarios were co-developed by Nationwide Platforms in the United Kingdom, a division [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:37:12+00:00 June 19th, 2019|

Siemens digitalizes maintenance training with DiSTI

Modern technical training is evolving at a breakneck pace – but the difficulty of creating, maintaining and delivering that training remains the same. There is intense demand for more effective training, provided globally at a lower cost to the business. Yesterday’s “death by PowerPoint” is being replaced by immersive virtual training that provides on-demand asynchronous delivery, which delivers an immersive experience that creates muscle memory and improves employee performance. New platforms like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mobile devices and Amazon AppStream are the “must-have” technologies that now promise the right results. They allow us to immerse and engage students, to reinforce proper technique, and to improve safety and efficiency. Virtual training saves on equipment wear and tear and enables students to train at their own pace in a safe environment. Late adopters still wonder whether the results justify the means. They ask: ”who is being successful at adopting and leveraging the technology for real business and cost improvements?” DiSTI has been working with Siemens to address the challenge of creating and managing virtualizing training and cross-platform delivery to drive measurable results. For example, DiSTI has demonstrated a 66 percent reduction in course length by reducing a three-day instructor-led [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:37:56+00:00 June 19th, 2019|

Wärtsilä Software in Maritime Simulation Centre

The technology group Wärtsilä is to supply and configure the software solutions for a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built simulation centre being constructed near Portsmouth, England. The centre is an expansion of the Maritime Skills Academy’s (MSA) training portfolio serving the Solent region, and is designed to meet the specific simulation training requirements of cruise, ferry and superyacht clients. The software is developed by Transas, a Wärtsilä company, who will also provide technical and maintenance support to the project. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in March 2019. The new facility will be uniquely positioned to service the needs of its targeted clients. It will be the world’s only commercial training centre to have a fully integrated Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum system within the full mission bridge simulator and associated course provision. Wärtsilä will also deliver the software solutions for a full mission engine room simulator with a customised cruise ship model and various other training aids. “Collaboration with partners and customers is central to realising Wärtsilä’s Smart Marine vision, and this is a classic example of how it can work to serve the needs of the industry. Thanks to our joint collaboration efforts, this centre will deliver exceptional training possibilities through the [...]

By | 2019-08-10T00:27:15+00:00 June 10th, 2019|

DiSTI to integrate VE Studio with Siemens’ Teamcenter

A new agreement between DiSTI and Siemens PLM Software enables the integration of DiSTI’s VE Studio with Siemens PLM Software’s Teamcenter portfolio to automate training and field service content development. “Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies are transforming the way our customers want to train and equip their workforce. Companies want to be able to leverage their investments in their content and reduce the cost of developing and supporting virtual training solutions. This partnership will enable us to integrate the VE Studio Virtual Training Development Platform with Siemens’ Teamcenter in a way that will automate the process of sharing content such as CAD and work in process procedures between the PLM system and the virtual training development platform,” says John Cunningham, chief revenue officer of the DiSTI Corporation.    

By | 2019-06-04T19:36:47+00:00 June 4th, 2019|

Varjo releases video-pass-through headset XR – 1

Varjo Technologies has developed a new headset named XR-1 Developer Edition. Shipping XR-1 to mixed reality developers, designers and researchers is expected in the second half of 2019. The XR-1 is capable of delivering photorealistic image quality with integrated eye tracking. It is the culmination of two and a half years of intensive R&D. The XR-1 enables the real and the virtual to achieve true visual parity – with the XR-1, the dream of ‘Hard AR’ (where you can no longer tell apart what is real and what is virtual) has at last been achieved. The XR-1 upgrades Varjo’s human-eye resolution headset (VR-1) with a front plate featuring dual 12 mpx cameras. The core technology makes photorealism possible with video-pass-through. It means that the device uses cameras to digitize the world in real time, and then multiplexes it inside the GPU with the virtual content to show the combined result to the user. The XR-1 enables users to examine photorealistic mixed reality in a full field of view. With the XR-1, virtual objects appear as real as anything in the physical world and can themselves cast shadows or even illuminate reality. Black objects appear truly black, opaque objects indeed block [...]

By | 2019-05-31T17:51:56+00:00 May 31st, 2019|