LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT With organisations seeking to train staff in real-time scenarios and settings, virtual reality technology is becoming an enticing option, as HRM Asia reveals Sham Majid
sham@hrmasia.com.sg
T
he School of Air Traffic Services in the Singapore Aviation Academy conducts a wide range of air traffic control operations and management courses for air traffic control officers, airspace planners, and managers. Realistic and practical training is imperative for developing employees for the high-pressured scenarios involved in each of those roles. This entails the use of virtual reality (VR)-incorporated simulator training. “VR simulator training works for the training of air traffic controllers and airport emergency services personnel as these professions have limitations for training in a live operating environment,” says Director of the Singapore Aviation Academy Michael Lim, . Likewise, VR technology has been increasingly permeating the building and construction industry.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has been encouraging firms to adopt impactful and productive construction technologies, including the use of digital engineering and information communication technologies such as three-dimensional modelling to enhance collaboration among partners in the construction landscape. For instance, VR technology can be used in the design process to enhance the experiential and immersive experience of building projects virtually – before actual construction commences. The demand for such technology led to BCA’s opening of the Centre for Lean and Virtual Construction (CLVC) in 2015. Cheng Tai Fatt, Deputy Managing Director of the Built Environment Research and Innovation Institute at BCA, says the CLVC is a first-of-itskind immersive and experiential facility for building modelling, virtual design, and lean construction to enhance communication and collaboration between stakeholders and improve productivity. “The CLVC provides the industry and academia a platform to test the concepts, technologies and tools such augmented reality and VR technology. Firms can also use the facilities at the CLVC for projectbased collaborative discussions and immersive training,” he shares.
Growing interest The use of VR-related technology in employee training is increasingly gaining traction across several industries. A recent UK report published by learning and talent management provider Kallidus revealed that 91% of learning and development professionals polled were planning to utilise VR for learning within their company. Over a third were planning to introduce VR over the next three years. Ender Jiang, Chief Marketing Technologist of Singapore start-up Hiverlab, says the widespread local use of the internet, mobile phones, and 360-degree videos has further spurred JUNE 2017
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