Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1019684
20 WET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2018 | wwtonline.co.uk Finding real virtues in virtual reality A er 18 months in devel- opment, Anglian Water is close to launching a vir- tual reality (VR) programme that is already generating inter- est beyond the sector. Created by Anglian and its partners using technology from Edg-VR, its modules make use of 360° images, videos, CGI fea- tures and multiple-choice ques- tions to deliver targeted training across various subjects. VR programme manager Steve Havvas describes the sys- tem, which allows trainees to learn in groups of up to 35 simultaneously, as "unique". "Bringing members of staŽ together through a VR experi- ence not only fosters good rela- tionships during training but it creates an immersive and realis- tic experience which is invalua- ble to existing new employees," he says. "This is a fantastic opportunity to engage staŽ in a new and exciting way." Using a live scoring system, Edg-VR enables trainees to take on challenges and answer ques- tions while immersed in Anglian Water VR programme manager Steve Havvas The Edg-VR system was developed for educational use " Anglian Water's Steve Havvas tells Robin Hackett why the company's new VR training programme is attracting widespread interest bespoke virtual scenarios related to their work. It can provide real insight into performance – even check- ing the user's eyesight, record- ing data on where they look and what information they pick up – and any areas for develop- ment can then be addressed through traditional training methods. "The beauty of this scoring platform is that we can always gather more data and, the more data you can gather from your employees, the more tangible results you can get," Havvas says. "Instead of taking a blan- ket approach, we can really tai- lor our physical training based on the scores. It's in no way, shape or form designed to replace the physical training – it's there to complement it." The early feedback has been good, and Havvas says Anglian Water and partners carried out extensive research to ensure the system delivers on its aims. "It's very important to use VR only where it's relevant," he says. "If it's applied in the right INSIGHT VR TRAINING Any enquires should be sent to: sean.austen@ksb.com 01278 458 686