Arch Virtual, a virtual reality technology company based in Madison, Wisconsin, is set to release a VR kit for training that teaches organisations how to design their own virtual reality experiences.
According to Jon Brouchoud, CEO of Arch Virtual, the development concept is geared towards aiding companies, schools and various other organisation types create training videos in-house. There is even scope for the U.S military to use this technology in the future. Brouchoud revealed that the company is trying to make VR training development more accessible.
Applications take months to build, and Arch Virtual is looking towards reducing expenses and project difficulties. The company is also aiming to facilitate virtual reality demonstration captures by trainers, to create experiences viewable by other people. – Jon Brouchoud
Titled Acadicus, the kit offers several potential scenarios through its platform, in addition to various equipment and locations. Trainers can utilise such equipment to create and save VR simulations that can be accessed whenever required.
Acadicus is initially focusing on health care industry organisations. Brouchoud acknowledged that medical simulation is the fastest growing VR training sector now.
An example of a health care application of this technology involves patients who are about to undergo a medical procedure. Putting them in virtual reality headsets can help to cut down anxiety by offering vivid and entertaining experiences.
Brouchoud has a deeply personal interest for making VR training available to medical professionals, as he was able to study the huge gaps in skills of different staff during 2018 when he spent a lot of time in the ICU due to his father’s life-threatening illness. He then set out to create a program to expand out to the masses.
Currently, Brouchoud is collaborating with a number of hospitals to develop various training environments, including an acutely realistic trauma centre, residential health care delivery, and paramedic expertise.
Brouchoud believes that other sectors will also show interest in creating their own virtual reality training in the future. According to him, a three-dimensional immersive environment can help ramp up teaching effectiveness, as compared to a video.
Video content can be viewed passively, with no scope of user participation. Virtual reality enables people to follow instructions and interact with objects, thus making their lessons more memorable. – Jon Brouchoud
The name Acadicus (ah-KAD-ick-us) was chosen for the training platform as it is the Latin language name for the saw-whet owl, a species of small owls native to North America. Bernie Brouchoud, Jon’s father, was responsible for finding the Manitowoc County Woodland Dunes Nature Center. He was also known to have a special interest in researching the saw-whet owl.
The potential success of Acadicus can inspire further VR offerings for the clients of Arch Virtual, according to Brouchoud. He expressed that any such move will diversify opportunities and raise the impact.
The U.S. Department of Defense can also be a potential user of this technology offers. The company founded in 2014, had also demoed this product at the Virtual Worlds Forum meet.
