Reality + Virtual world = Vireality

The reality and the virtual world will be melting together. It will be hard to separate them and to tell what is exactly the reality and what is the 'fake' virtual aspects of your world.

The reality will become more fluid. This can create very overwhelming and effective learning experiences.

Let's see some examples!

Handle a complex situation

The police had the problem that their regular 'shooting' training; it was a very clinical experience. It was only about aiming the gun. In a real situation there are many other aspects that are important. First of all you have to judge situations on different levels (legal aspects, danger, etc.) but you also will encounter some stress, fear, anger and other emotions.

With FATS (an American system) you overcome some of these problems. This system is in use in The Netherlands for about 10 years now. A police officer needs to react on a situation, projected on a large screen. An instructor can influence the process by selecting other 'paths'. The learner can talk to the screen and the situation will change based on his input. If you decide to shoot, there is a big difference if you shot the opponent in his head or his leg.

After the training session the evaluation is not only about the shooting but also about all the other aspects. Did you make the right legal decisions and considerations?

Walking within a game?

A room in a computer is something else then walking around in a room while being connected with the room via a computer around your wrist.

This is a gaming world located in Madrid, Spain where you play a computer game in a real building. The building react on the choices you make. Every room looks different and you will have to solve a different puzzle.

Imagine how we can use this kind of ideas within educational settings! How engaging can it be?

Fighting a virtual fire

To train fire people you need an old building. After putting that in fire there are not many things you can do with that building. And there is always a change that the fire will get out of control.

A solution is created by a Dutch company. They used augmented reality to train firemen. The fireman is walking around a building. He is wearing the things he is wearing normally: a mask and on his back he has a oxygen tank.  But in this situation there is a computer built into the tank. His mask has a display in it (kind of consumer video goggles) and a simple camera. He is just seeing the real world when he is walking around a building. But besides the reality a virtual event is projected as a layer over the reality.

This fireman experience a virtual fire in the real building and he has to act upon it.

Fighting your own Post Traumatic Stress

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by traumatic events that are outside the range of usual human experiences including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage and terrorist attacks.

Initial data suggests that 1 out of 6 Iraq War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Virtual reality exposure treatment has been used in previous treatments of PTSD patients with reports of positive outcomes. Be in the situation again and learn face the stress again and learn how to cope with it.