Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Servicing high-voltage equipment requires skill and safety procedures, both of which are acquired through frequent training. Failure to follow safety procedures could result in damaged equipment, injury, or loss of life. Technicians at ENMAX Corporation are required to service high-voltage equipment, but access to training is limited. Lethbridge College proposes to develop a Virtual Reality training prototype for ENMAX that would allow their technicians to access on-demand training that is authentic, immersive, and safe. The training will be relevant, memorable, and allow technicians to experience the results of following incorrect procedures in a safe environment. Current mechanical VR training solutions are limited to controller interaction, which may break immersion and be less effective for mechanical training. The goals of the project are: - Identifying the elements (audio, visuals, interactions) required for an authentic training experience - Determine which interaction style (controller or hand tracking) is most effective. - Inform curriculum and learning experience design best practices for use in VR