Training Industry Magazine - May/June 2020 - 34

a decrease in the brain's ability to retain
memory over time - otherwise known
as the forgetting curve. His argument
states that the length of time during
which something can be remembered
is dependent upon the strength of that
memory. In other words, in order for
something to be remembered long term,
it needs to be learned in an impactful
way. Following traditional methods,
Ebbinghaus's calculation shows that
a person will forget 90% of training
course content after only a month. The
challenge becomes more paramount
in the workplace, where employees
are only able to dedicate 1% of their
workload to learning and development.
Immersive training disrupts the traditional
training methodology by leveraging a
simulated and interactive environment to
create a stronger memory of each lesson.
Virtual learning environments activate
different learning approaches, combining
sensory perception and muscle memory
in an experiential learning environment
that demonstrates realistic scenarios.
Humans, by nature, are used to learning
by doing and by perceiving the critical
impacts of their actions. Immersive
technology enables learners to enter a
simulation of any training environment and
learn and make mistakes safely. Learners
are supported by responsive functionality,
the true-to-life physics of the simulation
and added educational content, resulting
in increased engagement and a stronger
training memory.

Smart Training,
Smarter Datasets
Digitalized immersive training is able
to optimize training efficiency - with
improved knowledge retention reducing
cost by requiring fewer training sessions.
However, that digitalized training program
is providing a further benefit. Through
its user tracking, data collection and
data analysis capabilities, it is working
to secure an improved dataset that can
prepare its digital infrastructure for the
potential of still-developing technologies,
like artificial intelligence. By using
immersive technologies, organizations

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gradually build a repository of easily
dispersed immersive training content
to use in training new technicians and
experts. Organizations planning for the
future are ensuring longevity by investing
in immersive training, then leveraging
the resulting digital capabilities to form a
backbone for sustainable development.
The strategy is already seeing some
success. According to a Capgemini report,
82% of companies implementing virtual
reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) have
found that it either matches or exceeds
their expectations.

The Immersive
Investment
One of the strongest drivers in the
adoption of immersive training is the
demonstrated return on investment
(ROI). Boeing declared their use of AR for
technicians has increased productivity
by 40% and reduced wiring production
time by 25%. Intel, a multinational tech
company, created training for their
electrical safety recertification. Their final
assessment calculated the five-year ROI of
VR for this one training alone could be as
high as 300%. Not only can organizations
benefit from cost savings by investing in
immersive training programs but also by
using their immersive training as a revenue
driver. Once created, immersive training
lessons can be sold to end clients, and
virtual training environments can be used
to improve remote support engagement
or as training for affiliate operations.
Organizations are no longer researching
the potential of the technology; they are

strategizing how to implement it and
are heavily investing in its potential for
future revenue growth.

From Smart Factories
Come Smart Cities
Digitalized technologies have undeniably
created a paradigm shift that is taking
hold of training organizations worldwide.
It's no coincidence that the manufacturing
industry is at the leading edge of this digital
frontier. Historically, the manufacturing
industry has typically instigated revolution.
By definition, an industrial revolution
describes the appearance of "new
technologies and novel ways of perceiving
the world [that] trigger a profound change
in economic and social structures." Soon,
just as learners can access immersive
training from any device and over any
network, clients will be able to access
product data, procedural information and
direct organizational support with their
fingertips. All data, from point of creation
to point of sale, will be fed back into an
integrated digital infrastructure. However,
the important thing to remember about
industrial revolutions is that they don't
limit themselves to the industries they
take their shape from. The changes taking
place within smart factories are going to
lead the rest of the world to sociopoliticallandscaped and economic infrastructures.
From the steam power revolution to
the mass production revolution, the
technologies that power industrial
innovation have a dynamic impact on
the world. Immersive technologies have
created an opportunity to optimize
education and training, and in the
process, they have begun to sculpt the
core infrastructure of the smart factory.
A future of smart cities is not far behind.
Laura Bohnert and Johann Cohut are
members of the business development
team at Modest Tree, an award-winning
modeling, training and simulation
company whose mission is to leverage
extensive industry experience and
leading technologies to create advanced,
immersive solutions for enterprise clients.
Email Laura and Johann.

https://www.psychestudy.com/cognitive/memory/ebbinghaus-forgetting-curve https://www.psychestudy.com/cognitive/memory/ebbinghaus-forgetting-curve https://www.touchstoneresearch.com/infographic-immersive-learning-in-corporate-training/ https://www.touchstoneresearch.com/infographic-immersive-learning-in-corporate-training/ https://www.capgemini.com/research-old/augmented-and-virtual-reality-in-operations/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=dt_none_link_report_none&utm_campaign=disruptdigital_ri_ar-vr https://www.capgemini.com/research-old/augmented-and-virtual-reality-in-operations/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=dt_none_link_report_none&utm_campaign=disruptdigital_ri_ar-vr https://www.touchstoneresearch.com/infographic-immersive-learning-in-corporate-training/ https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/modules/learn-about-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/meet-the-three-industrial-revolutions https://www.touchstoneresearch.com/infographic-immersive-learning-in-corporate-training/ https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/modules/learn-about-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/meet-the-three-industrial-revolutions https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AR-VR-in-Operations1.pdf https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AR-VR-in-Operations1.pdf https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AR-VR-in-Operations1.pdf https://www.onebonsai.com/blog/the-roi-of-vr-with-5-examples/ https://www.onebonsai.com/blog/the-roi-of-vr-with-5-examples/ https://www.onebonsai.com/blog/the-roi-of-vr-with-5-examples/ https://www.modesttree.com/

Training Industry Magazine - May/June 2020

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