Virtual Reality Training Sessions

What ever happened to virtual reality (VR)? Up until GenAI stole the limelight late in 2022, the #metaverse was all anyone was talking about. Facebook became META and famously was investing $10 billion annually into #VR. It was going to revolutionise education, healthcare, entertainment, shopping, and gaming, to name a few. During lockdown, a friend convinced me I was missing out on the next-big-thing so I bought an Oculus VR. The games were fun and the 360-videos were amazing. Video conferencing with colleagues who also had VR headsets were kind of goofy, though. Meeting colleagues around a campfire in Red Dead Redemption was amusing, but nothing useful got done. And then…boom. No one was talking about VR anymore. Obviously the hype was OTT but have we thrown the baby out with the bath water? What really struck me was how remarkably immersive and realistic it was and how useful it could be for running experiments. So I was fascinated when I heard Alexis Paljic talk about some of the work he and his team are doing. They ask a fundamental question: To what extent can learning in an extended reality (XR) environment transfer to the real world? They conducted a series of very cool experiments looking at how well drivers can retake control of a self-driving car in an emergency. When an automated car asks the driver to “take over,” the driver has a limited amount of time to shift their attention from whatever they were doing and take control of the vehicle. This is not an easy task and doing it well requires some training. Practicing in a live environment is dangerous so drivers got trained in one of three ways: 👉 One group read the car’s User Manual on how to re-take control 👉 The second group trained in a driving simulator with a real cockpit and controls, including pedals and a steering wheel 👉 The third group trained in a VR setting with a gaming racing wheel All three methods helped drivers respond more quickly but the simulator and VR environments helped them respond significantly faster with less training. In addition, when asked about their experience, participants rated the VR method the highest in terms of its usefulness, ease of understanding and pleasantness. VR isn’t available to everyone, but it’s far more accessible than driving simulators. Anyone purchasing a self-driving car could, in principle, receive VR-based training right at their dealership, making it a safe, cheap, and scalable training solution. Clearly, VR hasn’t gone away even if the hype has died down. The tech is still evolving as new use-cases develop. What is your experienced with VR? Share your thoughts on whether VR is going to be (or maybe already is?) genuinely useful in the comments below.

6 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 Want proof that #VR, #MR, and #AI are transforming education and training? Here’s how global organisations are creating measurable impact with extended reality: 1️⃣ 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 (𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Addressing nursing shortages and training working adults. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR training with Meta Quest for clinical and soft skills, in partnership with PCS Spark and Oxford Medical Simulation. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 10–15% increase in national nursing exam pass rates. 4,000+ nurses trained. Marked improvements in student confidence and real-world preparedness. 2️⃣ 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗴𝗼𝘄 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Physical constraints in teaching 3D subjects and remote learning accessibility. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Mixed reality lab with Meta Quest headsets and 12 custom MR apps, developed with Edify. VR labs created in partnership with leading immersive tech companies, allowing teachers to lead 3D classes remotely. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: Thousands of students taught per semester. £3.7M UK government investment. Recognized in The Times Higher Education Awards 2021. Students reported increased confidence and deeper understanding of material, even in remote settings. 3️⃣ 𝗡𝗬𝗨 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Risky, limited traditional anesthetic training. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR simulation for oral anesthesia using Meta Quest. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 1,200+ dental students trained. Greater student confidence. VR program licensed to other schools. 4️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Making science practical for online and in-person learners. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Mixed reality classes with Meta Quest, immersive views, and AI avatars. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 100% of teachers reported improved student confidence. 85% improvement in content recall. 94% of students learned better in VR. 5️⃣ 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗧𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹) ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Training efficiency and safety in healthcare settings. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR modules for Lean principles with Meta Quest 2. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 100% of participants said VR deepened their understanding. Plans to expand VR training hospital-wide. 6️⃣ 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Scaling auto-mechanic training for formerly incarcerated people. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR training with Meta Quest 2 and the EMPACT Immersive Training Platform. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: Early graduates securing jobs quickly. Reduced recidivism rates. Major potential for broader socio-economic impact. #ExtendedReality #MetaForWork #EdTech #VRTraining #MixedReality #Impact

Let’s be clear, I am not saying every nurse is undertrained. I’m suggesting it is our responsibility to provide every learner with access to training that meets them where they are because every undertrained nurse becomes a risk to someone’s mother, brother, or child. And no one talks about that part enough. As someone who's spent years in both clinical, educational, and simulation environments. I’ll tell you this: It’s not about intelligence. It’s about reps. If you're still relying on four to six manikin simulations buried under 120 weeks of didactic class time, you’re not preparing nursing students for clinical competency, you're preparing them to take an exam. Get them ready for what actually happens when the room starts spinning and the stakes are real. They need high-fidelity reps. Let’s be honest: • Medical errors don’t come from low test scores, they come from low competency. • VR simulation gives students a chance to fail safely and frequently, so real patients never pay that price. • Clinical confidence doesn’t come from passing a test. It comes from immersion in the experience, over and over, before it’s real. Immersive simulation isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a necessity if you want readiness, not risk, walking onto your floor. So if you’re leading a nursing program, managing clinical rotations, or building tech-integrated curriculum. This is the time to rethink your pipeline. Because real patients don’t come with a pause button. And your students can learn confidence before day one on the job. What’s your version of this? Do you agree? VRpatients #SimulationTraining #NurseReadiness #VRinHealthcare #ClinicalEducation #ImmersiveLearning

PwC found VR drives 3.75x higher emotional connection than traditional learning. We’ve seen it firsthand. In one Search & Rescue class, a trainee found a family screaming in a basement fire. Under stress, they misread the environment, searched the wrong way, and ran out of air. They blacked out in VR. Creating a mayday scenario, alongside the family. Their team had to rescue both. Headset off. Everyone safe. Immediate debrief: - Air management - Left/right hand search - Situational awareness - Communication under stress That same group later outperformed 13+ years of previous cohorts at a live burn. Takeaway? Emotional triggers in VR drive lessons deeper than theory ever can. Stress in a safe environment builds competence in the real one. What’s one training scenario that left a lasting mark on you?

After helping 50+ universities set up VR labs I’ve seen one truth. Immersive practice changes everything! Today, I’m sharing my 2025 tips on using VR for training—all based on real student outcomes. (Save and repost this for your faculty ♻️) 1️⃣ DANGEROUS SCENARIOS (Safety Imperative) → If it’s risky in real life, practice it in VR first. → Slash liability, boost confidence with hands-on simulations of high-stakes procedures. 2️⃣ IMPOSSIBLE SCENARIOS (Rarity Solution) → Expose students to anomalies they’d encounter once in their career—in VR, they can tackle them again and again. → Clinical or engineering oddities? Let them say “I’ve done this before!” 3️⃣ COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TRAINING (Failure Advantage) → Complex skills demand mistakes to learn. Let them fail big in VR—no real-world consequences. → Every expert was once a beginner who messed up (a lot). VR just makes it safer. 4️⃣ EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT (Budget Saver) → Don’t risk a $1M MRI or $25K flight simulator. → Replicate pricey hardware in VR to save on repair costs and maximize practice time. 💡 Implementation Checklist: 1. Focus on learning goals, not fancy gadgets. 2. Integrate VR seamlessly into your existing curriculum. 3. Train your faculty—lack of educator buy-in is a VR killer. I often recommend DICE for 95% of the institutions I work with—solid gold, seriously. Pro Tip: Track performance metrics for every VR module. This data becomes powerful proof for funding, accreditation, and continuous program improvement. I’m here to help you make the jump from classroom theory to immersive reality—minus the stress. Virtual handshake 🤝 and cheers to effective, future-proof VR in higher ed! P.S. Ask me anything about higher ed VR implementation :) #virtualreality #edtech #vr #highereducation #vrtraining

Another excellent paper at #JMXR! Journal of Medical Extended Reality The aim here is to summarize the results from a #virtualreality #VR telesimulation program in response to mandatory #covid-19 social distancing during the pandemic. The target audience was a group of physicians naïve to VR. This article explores the development and implementation of VR simulation in #medical training. Leveraging the Acadicus VR platform, a VR simulation solution was created, enabling interactive scenarios simulating pediatric critical care situations. Thirty-one diverse scenarios were designed and executed over an 8-month period, involving pediatric and emergency medicine residents and fellows. The development process involved creating lifelike mannequins and dynamic cardiac waveforms, enhancing realism and spontaneity. Using VR headsets and streaming technology, participants engaged in immersive scenarios remotely. Performance evaluation used a modified version of the Tool for Resuscitation Assessment Using Computer Simulation, revealing comparable outcomes across different training levels and specialties. Participant feedback underscored the immersive nature of VR simulation, offering enhanced realism and in-depth debriefing opportunities compared with traditional mannequin-based simulation. However, limitations such as the lack of haptic feedback and the need for better integration with existing simulation center infrastructure were noted. Cost-effectiveness emerged as a significant advantage of VR simulation, with lower upfront costs compared with traditional simulation centers. VR simulation also demonstrated versatility in staging training across various hospital settings, offering a more comprehensive learning experience. Excellent work and exciting times! #AMXRA American Medical Extended Reality Association (AMXRA) #IVRHA IVRHA (International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association)

The best training room is where the work actually happens. That's the logic behind VR passthrough in SynergyXR 3.5 released yesterday. Put on a headset and your real surroundings stay visible - the actual machine, the actual workspace. Virtual content is layered on top: step-by-step instructions, 3D models, interactive procedures. You train in context, on real equipment, without leaving the floor. For industries where procedures are complex and equipment is expensive, this isn't just "more immersive training." It's the ability to run a procedure on the actual asset, in the actual space, before ever touching it unsupervised. There's a forward-looking angle I keep coming back to. Every serious AR glasses roadmap - Meta, Apple, Google and others - is converging on exactly this modality: lightweight, spatially anchored content layered over the physical world. Companies building physical space procedures in SynergyXR today are already working in that paradigm. The content model maps directly to where the hardware is heading. The video shows it better than I can describe. What use cases would you test first? #EnterpriseXR #MixedReality #XRTraining #SynergyXR

This project gave me the chance to collaborate with Jayse Hansen and Jeff Hansberger from #Øffgrid to design a VR simulation system that recreates real-world mission scenarios for soldiers. Our goal was simple: build a training experience that feels immersive, effective, and engaging — one that helps users learn faster while staying fully focused in the moment. We designed each interface to make critical information easy to understand at a glance, from risk zone alerts to interactive mission tracking. With real-time feedback, soldiers can quickly adjust tactics, respond under pressure, and make better decisions in the field. By combining the power of Apple Vision Pro with a human-centered design approach, we created a training environment that is both safe and highly realistic — helping strengthen performance, readiness, and confidence. This is the kind of work that shows how immersive technology can reshape military training, moving preparation toward smarter, safer, and more effective virtual experiences. What excites me most is the potential of VR and spatial computing to transform how people train for high-stakes situations. Where else do you think this kind of technology could make a real impact?

𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 💡 As the son of a firefighter, I'll be the first to admit that live fire training is crucial for firefighter preparedness, but it carries risks like burns, smoke inhalation, and pollution. Virtual reality (VR) training minimizes these dangers by allowing students to develop skills before engaging in live fire exercises, enhancing their experience while protecting their health and the environment. Traditional firefighter training can be expensive, involving complex logistics, infrastructure, and consumables. VR training offers a sustainable, financially viable solution for skills acquisition and maintenance. With VR, you're able to practice in diverse scenarios, and organizations can provide repeated training sessions without extra costs. With departments from cities that YOU live in spending $5,000 per live training session, it's crucial to consider what alternatives are available. These are taxpayer dollars. These new modalities are being used. Whether it's for training on light duty. The fact you can train 24/7/365. A way to return to work. Or the indirect savings from (potential) lawsuits. We're solving problems while saving partners money. All while up-levelling the fire service and reducing exposure to PFAs. Where do you see this new technology impacting your department most?

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 🧠 Surgeons need hands-on experience long before performing real operations. The system developed by Fundamental Surgery supports that process. It combines virtual reality with haptic feedback to simulate real procedures. The result is practice in a realistic setting. Actions feel physical. Feedback is immediate. Mistakes become learning moments. It also solves a practical problem. Cadaveric training is expensive and not always available. This approach is more accessible and cost effective. Training without risking patients or wasting medical supplies changes how preparation can scale. 🎥 via FundamentalVR 🗓️ 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟎 𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐓 I share real life cases & insights on endovascular interventions. Missed one? Check my profile for previous posts.