I went to a networking event today which discussed VR in Training and Education, and while it wasn’t really something I was looking at it’s given me some things to take away, from it given that I want to eventually become a teacher later down the line. And also keeping up with and anticipating new directions artists may need to take is important to the role of tech artist.
VR and games technology is being explored as a new technique of learning, with significant advantages over the simple classroom and textbook paradigm, the one major advantage is it’s fun, for kids, teens and adults alike, entertainment mixed with learning, that isn’t some kind of cheesy TV show (looking at you, Veggietales)
Another significant advantage I had rolling around in my head was that it bridges the significant gaps between visual, auditory and tactile learning that is very prominent in the classroom teaching style of today; for example you can now teach maths in a kinesthaetic manner much more safely and much more accessibly through the use of VR applications as opposed to classroom materials, and this will greatly benefit the engagement of children and the job of the teacher as much as it will benefit a company’s profits.
It’s also interesting to note that it can be used for behaviour modification, showing people the consequences of certain actions within a safe environment and showing them why certain things are how they are, in VR, there’s a sense of anonymity, you can destroy a virtual company, but it’s virtual, so it’s all good, it’s easier to learn from these mistakes in a controlled environment than it is in the big wide world.
It would also be interesting to see if VR can play a role in psychological applications, such as CBT and Rehabilitation from drug usage or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, helping people to better understand their thought patterns, their feelings, and helping them to acknowledge the bigger picture of a situation and take a more offhand and logical approach to a situation. In the case of PTSD, it could also come to great benefit in the sufferer knowing and coming to terms with what has happened to them, and to help them alleviate suppressed memories similar to how Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing works but perhaps more effective in treating it head on.
All in all, it’s good to see that gaming technology such as VR is taking more of a hold within society and it is being seen as a useful bridge to bridge the gaps in education and training as much as it has a large entertainment factor
The issues stated of non-computer savvy learners within their respective industries is, I think, a generational issue that will cease to exist in the next 20 or so years.
Also something to take into account is level design may need to be changed and looked at from a different perspective, with the massive increase in interactivity yielded by VR, level design will need to reflect this, and alongside this,the game needs to be optimized to run at a stable 90 frames per second to avoid motion sickness or other issues.
I also spoke with a Gateshead college tutor and former Ubisoft employee, he was rather helpful in advising me on my current position and affirmed to me that I was on the right track to enter the industry, as I am entering in a similar way that he did, which is reassuring to know.
Zee's Cave 