ForgeFX on Simulations and Real-time 3D Serious Games

Training Simulator Return On Investment

2011-06-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Every time that we begin the development of a new training simulator project, it's important that we identify the return on investment (ROI) that clients can expect to receive. While most companies want to provide the best possible training to their employees, it often comes down to the bottom line and what their budget will support. Training simulators provide significant ROI to clients, as well as excellent training for operators.

When calculating the return on investment that a training simulator offers there are 2 main avenues to focus on. The first is that you will be able to reduce costs by avoiding accidents, and the financial burden that accompanies them. The second is that you will be able to increase revenue by having a more efficient and productive workforce, capable of moving more product in less time.

Take for example a forklift operator training simulator. The goal of a forklift training simulator is to minimize the risks posed by using a forklift in the workplace, and increase employee efficiency. However, when looking at the same project from an ROI perspective the goals of the project are cost reductions and increased revenue.

Cost Reductions: In order to understand the cost reductions that a forklift training simulation provides, one must first understand how a company would be affected financially if an employee had a forklift accident.

Lawsuits and Liabilities: Companies regularly suffer large financial losses due to lawsuits and liabilities after a forklift accident. In addition to attorney fees, court costs and settlement amounts, companies often end up paying medical bills, disability payments, and funeral costs. Compare these amounts to the cost to develop a forklift training simulator, and your return on investment has just been handed to you.

Injury or Death: In addition to the costs associated with forklift accidents, keeping employees safe should be every company's goal. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that there are approximately 85 forklift fatalities every year, in addition to 34,900 serious injuries and 61,800 non-serious injuries every year. OSHA also estimates that 70% of workplace accidents could have been avoided with proper training. Training simulators are one of the most effective learning tools and will help your company reduce their number of accidents immediately.

Material Loss: Forklift accidents can damage not only the forklift, but other valuable company equipment, facilities, or merchandise. While a collision with a wall or shelf may be inconsequential, crashing a forklift into a gas or electrical system is dangerous and costly. Employees who experience accidents in the virtual world are able to learn from those mistakes, and are less likely to have accidents in the real-world.

Maintenance Costs: Reductions in maintenance costs are not usually associated with safety training, but that's a mistake. Once a company is using a simulator to train their employees, their maintenance costs will drop since operators will no longer be misusing the equipment - causing unnecessary wear-and-tear on the machine.

Increased Revenue: In addition to reducing costs; training simulators allow your employees to become more efficient - producing more in less time, leading to more profit for the company. With a workforce that is well trained, employees will have fewer accidents, preform their jobs faster, and work more confidently - ultimately leading to a higher performing workforce. Training simulators lead to higher efficiency levels by providing a lifelike experience for operators to train within, so they can master their techniques and work more safely and quickly.

Learn Best Practices: Novice operators who start their training on the simulator will be able to master every control of the machine and learn to apply best practices before they every step foot into a real-world piece of equipment. With less "on the job training" taking place, employees can hit the ground running and be more productive sooner.

Practice in a Virtual Environment: In addition to learning how to operate a piece of heavy equipment, operators must become comfortable operating machinery within a workplace environment. Simulators allow your operators to master the spatial relations challenges posed by working in a busy warehouse that includes other forklifts, tight spaces, blind corners, foot traffic, etc.

Operator Performance Tracking: Training simulators can track every bit of data that is generated during a simulation session, allowing for a performance tracking system to be implemented. This performance tracking system allows managers to see how their employees' training is coming along, identifying the best-of-the-best and the worst-of-the-worst, and seeing what specific skills certain employees may need to focus on. Simulators can track subtle behaviors that can go unnoticed in real-world training. Identification and correction of these mistakes further contributes to the ROI delivered by a training simulator.

Training simulators allow companies to provide their employees with a safe and cost-effective virtual training solution that allows operators to learn from their mistakes, rather than suffer from them. If a training simulator can prevent one accident from happening it can pay for itself, and can increase a company's bottom line.

Advanced Disaster Management Simulator

2011-05-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

Advanced Disaster Management Simulator (ADMS) is an interactive virtual reality simulation system for training incident commanders and disaster management teams. Developed by Environmental Tectonics Corporation, ADMS provides disaster management training for everyone from police, to medical responders, to emergency vehicle operators. Simulation sessions occur withing virtual 3D environments that range from urban to rural, from seaport to airport, and from railways to subways.

To help reduce the loss of lives suffered during a large scale natural disaster, training and being prepared for these events is mandatory. Unfortunately the costs, planning time, and logistics that are required in order to conduct a live disaster response training simulation is so significant that it is often prohibitive. This is where virtual training simulators come into play. Virtual training simulators allow you to conduct any number of simulated disasters as often as you want, without posing any risks to people or property, and at affordable costs. By overcoming some of the hurdles and limitations posed by real-world training, virtual training simulators are an invaluable tool when it comes to training people.

Advanced Disaster Management Simulation

Training for Disaster Management

Operators of ADMS are immersed in an interactive virtual 3D environment that includes a physics engine, artificial intelligence, and a collection of algorithms that take into account a number of variable conditions, and then generate realistic disaster scenarios. Everyone from on-scene incident commanders to emergency center operations personnel are able to practice their reaction and decision making skills, preparing them to make better decisions when a real-world disaster strikes.

Subway Accident Response Simulation

The simulation focuses on response training objectives like:

Command and control
Coordination and communication
Planning and resource management

In addition to being a multi-user platform that allows for teams to train together, ADMS is an expandable system, that allows for the integration of items like vehicle cabs so drivers and heavy equipment operators can participate in the simulation-based training sessions. With a wide variety in the types of disasters that can be simulated, many different disciplines can benefit from the training provided by the simulator. Simulation scenarios include:

Terrorist attacks
Building fires
Industrial accidents
Hazardous material spills
Forrest fires

In addition to providing a virtual environment for disaster management training, ADMS includes a number of other features that make the system an even more powerful tool. Some of the features that stand out include:

Responder performance assessment utility
Response plan testing application
Scenario generator
Instant replay

Combine the increase in disasters we face today from sources like climate change, terrorism, and man-made emergencies, with the lack of sufficient training budgets due to the current economic climate, and you've got the perfect conditions for disasters to turn into catastrophes. Training simulators allow you to stay within your budget, while providing your people with the training they need to be prepared when disasters strike.

Interactive 3D Simulation Demonstrates Climate Change Science and Solutions

2011-04-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

It's common knowledge that interactive 3D training simulators can be used to reduce the consumption of fuel during the training of heavy equipment operators, thus helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but that's not the only way they can contribute to climate change solutions. The University of British Columbia has developed an interactive 3D simulation, named Future Delta, that demonstrates the results of global warming virtually, and allows users to see how the actions of humans directly impact the environment.

Interactive 3D Climate Change Simulation

3D Simulations Immerse and Involve Users

By developing and distributing an interactive 3D simulation, The University of British Columbia's hopes to raise the public's awareness of the issues surrounding climate change and methods for reducing carbon footprints. A game-like 3D simulation has the ability to reach a portion of the audience that traditional informational material may not, and immerses users in the content allowing them to participate and have a richer experience, become more vested in the problem.

To further involve local users and gain their interest and support, the simulation's virtual environment is a replication of the flood-prone Delta, British Columbia area, which is close to the UBC Okanagan campus where the project is being developed and led by Aleksandra Dulic, Professor of Interactive Art and Dynamic Media. Says Professor Dulic:

"The hope is that when people recognize their neighborhood, their home, or their community, they will feel a personalized connection that helps to accelerate their sense of urgency in making smart environmental choices. We are taking complicated science and applying it to the neighborhood level so people can experience cause and effect and see how their personal choices may impact their own community."

While the simulation is aimed and solving some of the specific problems the Delta area is facing, simulation software like this can be developed to model any place and any problem.

Global Warming Solution 3D Simulation

Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis

Future Delta is part climate change science modeling simulator, and part socioeconomic scenario analysis simulation. By providing an interactive 3D learning environment, people become active participants, rather than passive audience members, and are more likely to grasp complex climate change science principles, and take an interest in their potential solutions.

The project is funded by an Image, Sound, Text and Technology grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies. The bios of the team members and a demo version of the application is available at: futuredelta.ok.ubc.ca which states that:

"The Future Delta simulation encapsulates climate change challenges, adaptation, mitigation, technology and policy options, as well as choices and influences on a neighborhood scale. The hyper-realistic modeling of Beach Grove road is based on observational data, such as terrain data, maps, etc, while the simulation models are based on geophysical and integrated assessment models."

The simulation includes storm and flooding models based on real-world future predictions for the Delta area, thus simulating scenarios that are more likely to actually occur. As more people around the world are affected by global warming and climate change, it will be important to educate the public and private sectors in regards to the concepts of climate change and what to expect.

Interactive 3D Climate Change Simulator

When conveying complicated information to people it's important to choose the appropriate delivery mechanism. Interactive 3D simulations are great tools for engaging people with the material and concepts you want to present. Easily deployed over the internet, they can be made readily available to a large audience, providing the potential for you to reach a larger audience than more traditional educational material can.

Like one of my favorite proverbs says:

“Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”

Google's 3D Body Browser

2011-04-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

As with most people, I'm often asked why I do the work that I do. Or how I first became interested in this stuff, and today I got a great reminder. Both of how I first got interested in this type of work, and also how far the industry has come. When I was a kid back in the 1970's, an Encyclopedia Britannica was pretty much all we had when it came to learning material. We probably didn't yet have a color TV yet, and certainly no VCR, computer, Internet, or cell phone. The Encyclopedia Britannica was the only thing, other than my dad, that I could turn to for information.

Of course the best part of the book was the transparent and semi-transparent pages that depicted the human body. One of the earliest forms of interactive media, the book let you could decide which layers you wanted to see by which pages you viewed, perhaps deciding to show only the skeletal and muscular systems, while hiding others. The first page contained all the part name labels, so you could quickly flip that page over and get the name of any part of the human body.

Well I've got to say that Google Body beats Encyclopedia Britannica. Google Body is a free, WebGL supported browser-based (like Chrome), interactive 3D "Body Browser" that allows you to explore the human body in real-time 3D. Users can choose between a male or female body to examine by panning the model up/down and left/right, zooming in/out, and rotating the model around the Y axis. The controls include sliders that allow you to change the opacity of the multiple layers, showing and hiding different body systems easily. Users can click on any body part to see a label showing the part's name, and the option to push-pin it, to keep the label visible while you explore the rest of the body.

http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/

Google's 3D Body Browser

Perhaps one of my favorite features is the text search, giving users the ability to quickly type in the name of a body part and instantly see that part and where it resides in the body. Search suggestions are also given, in case you can't remember how to spell zygomaticus minor and major.

Interactive 3D Human Anatomy Browser

I remember that I couldn't understand why the rest of the book wasn't like the body pages. Why wasn't there something similar for trees, cars, and fish? It didn't make any sense to me, if they had the technology to make these semi-transparent overlay pages why wasn't the entire book made out of them? Well I never got the answer to that question, but I did get the inspiration to pursue projects that require complex systems to be represented visually and interactively, thanks to Encyclopedia Britannica I guess.

Google Body Demonstration Video

The Beta version of Google Body is great, and I'm looking forward to the enhancements that Google will make to it over time. It's a great application for kids, and with access to material like this, I look forward to seeing the applications of tomorrow that they will be building. Putting this type of interactive 3D application in the hands of the public is great because it clearly demonstrates how this type of solution for visualizing and understanding a complex system is useful. If you have a complex system that requires users to understand every component of that system, and how they work together, an interactive 3D application is a great tool to use to achieve your goals.

ACGME Program Requirements for Anesthesiology Residents Requires Simulated Clinical Experiences

2011-04-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

While other industries like aerospace, mining, and the military have been using simulation-based training for decades, health care is still in its infancy when it comes to adopting training simulators. There are dozens of great medical training simulators on the market today, many of them help save lives and money by allowing trainees to a high-level of training. Few of them are required by accreditation councils, but that might all be about to change.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors approved the following revision to the Program Requirements for Anesthesiology at their February, 2011 meeting:

"IV.A.6 Residents must participate in at least one simulated clinical experience each year."

The Review Committee does not require that any program use a formal simulation center, however programs are encouraged to incorporate surgeons and nurses into the simulation experience. The Committee states that:

"Residents must participate in at least one yearly simulated intraoperative clinical experience that serves to improve and assess medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, systems-based practice, and/or practice-based learning and improvement."

The Committee believes that the simulation assessment tools are equally important as the training tools, in order to ensure that the participants receive meaningful assessments. Training simulators are leading the way when it comes to improving medical education, ultimately leading to higher levels of patient health and safety.

The benefits of training simulators have been proven by other industries for decades, and it stands to reason that the health care industry will benefit as well. Simulation-based training has the potential to have a huge impact on all aspects of medical training, everything from screening patients, to conducting laboratory-based training, to surgical practice. What sets simulation-based training apart from other methods of training is that it provides a safe environment for students to fail in. Trainees can learn from their mistakes that are made during a simulation session, as opposed to mistakes made in the real-world that cause patients to suffer.

RRC News, Simulation: New Revision to Anesthesiology Program Requirements

ForgeFX Develops a Military Training Simulator for Dynamic Defense Materials

2011-03-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

ForgeFX partnered with Dynamic Defense Materials to develop the McCurdy's Armor™ Military Training Simulator. This custom software solution is an interactive real-time 3D training simulator that allows soldiers to prepare for the assembly of the portable McCurdy's Armor™ system, in a safe and cost-effective way.

Military Training Simulator

Training for Mission Critical Tasks

It's a serious business when it comes to training people for war-ready professions. These people will be asked to perform mission critical tasks where lives hang in the balance of the outcome. Military training simulators allow soldiers to prepare for their operations well before they deploy to the battlefield, allowing them to achieve a higher rate of success.

3D Virtual Training Environment

McCurdy's Armor™ is a unique Lego™-like armor system that easily snaps together, allowing for the assembly of structures to meet any need. With proper training an essential requirement, Dynamic Defense Materials partnered with ForgeFX to develop this interactive 3D simulator that trains military personnel how to assemble the armor system rapidly. Military training simulators help keep soldiers well-trained and safe all around the world.

Training simulators improve success rates.

Custom 3D Simulation Software

ForgeFX custom developed this real-time 3D simulation software that provides virtual hands-on training and instruction on the configuration of McCurdy's Armor™. The program is a downloadable Windows-based desktop application, developed with the Microsoft XNA Framework. XNA is the programming environment and set of managed libraries, based on the Microsoft.NET Framework, that allows developers to use Visual Studio to create games that run on Windows-based computers, as well as the Xbox 360 console and Windows Phone.

Simulation-based training is safe.

Simulation-Based Training

Step-by-step, soldiers become participants in the construction of different types of structures, directly experiencing how the armor system works, and taking that muscle memory with them into the real-world. To learn more, please read the case study on the ForgeFX web site: McCurdy's Armor™ Military Training Simulator

If you're charged with training people for mission critical tasks, you're aware of the challenges and risks associated with conducting training on real-world equipment. Interactive 3D training simulators allow you to provide your operators with a safe and cost-effective virtual training solution. For an assessment of needs that are specific to your project, please contact us so we can review your requirements and put forward a project plan, including a technology recommendation.

Semiconductor and IT Companies Design Complex Systems Using 3D Simulations

2011-02-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

If you're tasked with designing complex systems, like those used in the semiconductor, power utility, IT, or just about any other high-tech industry, you're well aware of the need for powerful tools to model these systems in. Through the use of interactive 3D simulations, large corporations are staying ahead of their competitors by designing systems that are optimized, more efficient, and result in higher performing real-world systems.

Fairchild Semiconductor

Fairchild Semiconductor, is just one of many suppliers of high performance power products that are using 3D simulation tools to help design and manage complex systems. Fairchild is using Magwel’s Power Transistor Modeling Tool to design high current power devices. Their patented technology "co-simulates semiconductor devices with metal interconnect with 3D field-solver accuracy".

Fairchild Semiconductor Implements Magwel’s Power Transistor Modeling Tool

NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation, a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies, recently developed the world's first 3D Self Organizing Network simulation. NEC plans to use this simulation to test the feasibility of Self Organizing Networks, thought to play an important role in future autonomous optimization of networks.

The two main features listed for the simulator are:

Verification of Self Organizing Network performance under 3D radio propagation in an urban environment.
Verification of Self Organizing Network performance amid user mobility in an urban environment.

NEC Self Organizing Networks for Long Term Evolution Specification

Both Fairchild's and NEC's 3D simulators are great example of using this-generation tools, to develop next-generation mobile communication specifications. If you're going to compete in these cutting-edge industries you'd better arm yourself with tools that give you advanced capabilities in order to stand out from your competition.

Simulations Reduce Cost and Time to Develop Zero-Emissions Power Plants

2011-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

Here's another great example (see: UMWA Coal Mining Training Simulator) of simulations being used in the coal mining industry, but these aren't operator training simulators. Scientists from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are using a supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to simulate the process of coal being converted into carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

This process, known as gasification, happens when coal is subjected to precise temperatures and controlled amounts of oxygen and steam. Through the use of computer-based simulations, scientist hope to reduce the cost and amount of time required to develop zero-emissions power plants.

Chris Guenther, research scientist at NETL's Computational Science Division discussing the project being conducted at the ORNL:

"This ability to finely resolve relevant structures inside a dense, reactive gas-solid system is not only unique, but also necessary to accelerate the commercial deployment of advanced gasification technology."

Building Gasifiers via Simulation

Several large scale gasification simulations will be employed for NETL's Clean Coal Power Initiative, a program that was instituted to address an array of energy issues and accelerate the deployment of advanced technologies to ensure clean, reliable, and affordable electricity for the United States.

NETL Process Dynamic Simulator Research and Training Center

NETL has established a world-class Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Dynamic Simulator Research and Training Center. The training center is located at the National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University.

Gasification simulations provides users with accurate 3D information and visualization concerning relevant gasification properties including flow, pressure, temperature, and species distribution. In many cases, the software (which combines fluid dynamics and reaction chemistry for modeling a single functioning unit) produces more information than traditional real-world experiments can provide.

Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges

NETL's simulation was developed using the Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFiX) framework, an internationally recognized open source software used for modeling gas-solids flow. MFiX allows NETL to simulate hydrodynamics, heat transfer, and the chemical reactions required to change coal into fuel.

MFiX Mass Inlet/Outlet

Scientists can now conduct detailed simulation sessions that will provide accurate predictions on how to more effectively mix coal with oxidizers, thus getting the optimum mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Leveraging knowledge gained from the simulation, more efficient commercial-scale gasifiers can be designed, without having to perform the long and costly series of traditional real-world experiments that are required in order to isolate these important variables.

These gasification simulations are cost-effective and accurate research tools being used for the development of large-scale power plants, and also great examples of how 3D simulations are important components when it comes to planning complex systems. Simulation software is helping to develop power plants and energy systems that will give us clean, reliable, and affordable energy in the future.

United Mine Workers of America Coal Mining Training Simulator

2011-01-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a great example of a virtual training simulator being used by an industry that you might not think of right away when it comes to simulation-based training, but one that makes perfect sense when you think about it.

The United States mining industry, which is dominated by coal, reported a total market cap of approximately $962 billion dollars in 2007. Competing in a total global market cap of privately traded companies of approximately $50 trillion dollars. In addition to large financial risks being at stake during every operation, mining is one of the most dangerous and accident-prone businesses to engage in, clearly an industry where the training of operators is of paramount importance.

UMWA Mining Technology and Training Center

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Mining Technology and Training Center, in Greene Country, PA, is a $4.3 million dollar facility that is dedicated to training coal miners how to do their jobs more safely. Through the use of safe and cost effective simulators, trainees are able to repeatedly attempt maneuvers that in the real-world are dangerous and have the potential of causing costly delays or bodily harm.

Developed for the UMWA in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, the project has been evaluated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

This Pittsburgh Tribune Review article quotes Launa Mallett, Lead Research Scientist at the University of Pittsburgh's Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory:

"We looked at other industries. We know training in virtual environments has been used successfully in the military and medical fields. So we tailor-made a program for mine training."

Another quote in the article is from Joseph DeSalvo, who uses the training simulator as part of a six week training program at the Union Training Center:

“In approximately three hours with the navigation program, I can teach coal miners how to get around underground as well as it would take them six months to learn on the job. That’s why I use it."

Mallett says that MSHA has plans to evolve the simulator so that trainees can practice emergency tasks like evacuations and rescues. This type of training and level of preparedness is essential for those working in hazardous environments typical to the coal mining industry. Simulation-based training allows organizations to virtually expose their employees to potentially dangerous situations to train them on correct procedures, without exposing them to the serious risks they'll face in the real world. Workers are able to gain skills and become competent with expensive equipment by training in a simulated environment, avoiding the need to take real-world equipment out of production.

Simulators reduce the risk of training for jobs in dangerous environments, and reduce the overall costs associated with training for those jobs.

Damage Control Trainer Wins NTSA Training Simulation Award

2011-01-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Damage Control Trainer, a serious game meant to prepare Navy recruits for deployment, won the 2010 National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Modeling and Simulation in the Training category. This serious game teaches Navy recruits how to respond correctly to situations like shipboard floods and fires.

The training game, developed by Raytheon BBN Technologies & Alion Science and Technology, is meant to "teach recruits how to navigate a ship, follow communication protocols, perform damage control operations and train on real-life scenarios such as floods, fires and mass casualty exercises".

Damage Control Trainer: Incident Response

The game was funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, under the Capable Manpower Broad Agency Announcement, and adopted by the Navy's Recruit Training Command.

Damage Control Trainer: Vessel Nomenclature

A study at the University of Central Florida, mentioned in this Business Wire press release, states that recruits who used the Damage Control Trainer for just one hour improved their performance in essential training areas by 50 to 80 percent. This is a great example of how training games can be an effective, safe, and cost efficient way of training people for mission critical tasks.

"The Damage Control Trainer is helping prepare recruits for real-life situations, and that can mean much lower risk to both the sailors and the fleet.” - Rear Adm. Richard Brooks

Damage Control Trainer won the 2009 I/ITSEC Serious Game Challenge, in the Business category, and the NTSA 2010 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Modeling and Simulation in the Training category.

“This second award for the Damage Control Trainer reinforces our belief that a well-designed game can provide measurable results in the real world” - Rear Adm. Richard Brooks

Rear Adm. Richard Brooks is the Alion Science and Technology Senior Vice President, and Manager of the Distributed Solutions Group.

The NTSA Channel has an interview with Curtis Murphy, project engineer from Alion, in which he discusses the talk he gave at I/ITSEC 2010 on how they built the award winning serious game.

The game is being created using the Delta3D open source game engine, under the Virtual Environments for Ship and Shore Experiential Learning (VESSEL) project, which includes a simulated 3D interior of an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer.

One of the main goals of the project was to address a training gap that was faced by the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command. The existing curriculum allowed only a limited opportunity for hands-on learning of damage control skills, and no exposure to shipboard environments prior to the exercises aboard Battle Stations 21, a high-fidelity simulated ship environment. The Damage Control Trainer delivers a highly immersive interactive experience that better prepares and trains recruits for upcoming exercises, resulting improved performance.

I/ITSEC Serious Games Challenge

2011-01-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011, here's to a great new year!

ForgeFX wrapped up the year in Orlando at I/ITSEC (Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference), the worlds largest modeling, simulation, and training conference. ForgeFX's Virtual Walking the Pens was chosen as a business finalist in the Fifth Annual Serious Games Showcase & Challenge,

The goal of Serious Games Showcase & Challenge is to identify innovative game-based technologies and solutions that improve training across all segments for individuals, groups and systems. Projects were awarded in Best Student Category, Best Government Category, and Best Business Category with all finalists and winners listed on their web site.

From a Team Orlando Press Release: According to I/ITSEC lead Service Executive, USAF Col. Jack Franz, the challenge experienced a 30% growth this year and included a very select group of national and international submissions.

"The Nation needs fresh ideas, innovation and technology,"

he said. The Serious Games Showcase & Challenge helps promote organizations and individuals in that quest.

Rear Admiral (Ret) and NTSA President, Fred Lewis, said I/ITSEC 2010 and this year’s Challenge has proven to be the best ever, and the quality of games submissions continues to improve every year.

I/ITSEC's YouTube channel features a collection of interviews with project developers for a number of finalists, including Greg Meyers from ForgeFX.

Virtual Walking the Pens by ForgeFX

CliniSpace by Innovation in Learning

Boarders Ahoy by Allied Command Transformation, NATO

I/ITSEC's continuing support and promotion for Serious Games is fantastic and has helped organizations and vendors connect, allowing fantastic simulation software to be developed. With the recognition that game-based learning is successful, cost-effective, and safe, there is a big demand for custom interactive 3D training software. With the cost of real-world supplies always increasing, and computer hardware always decreasing and becoming more available, delivering virtual training products is an easy choice. Organizations across many different industries are seeing an excellent return on investment through the development of Serious Games and 3D training simulations.

Surgical Simulators Improve Training

2010-11-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

Surgical training simulators provide residents with a highly realistic and safe approach for learning complicated surgical procedures. As surgeries become more technically advanced, and rely on video-assisted surgical procedures, the training for these types of surgeries needs to become more advanced as well. Surgical training simulations allow students to preform virtual operations as many times as necessary until mastery is achieved, without ever putting an actual patient at risk.

This summer NYU Langone Medical Center, in partnership with BioDigital, created a touch-enabled medical training simulation to teach the skills that are necessary to preform a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy. The Right Upper Lobe Resection Cognitive Task Trainer allows surgical trainees to interact with the software through the use of a haptic device. Delivering vibration and resistance forces to the user, haptic technology allows surgeons to feel the anatomy of a simulated patient just as they would a live patient.

Right Upper Lobe Resection Cognitive Task Trainer

Over the past 10 years video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy operations have replaced more traditional open lung surgeries. With the limited visibility available to surgeons during video-assisted surgery, training for this type of procedure has become increasingly difficult and complicated. Traditional cadaver training is possible for this type of procedure, but is an expensive option since cadaver organs can only be used once. Simulators remove this expense and allow trainees to practice a procedure repeatedly until they have mastered it.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lobectomy Training Simulator

The Right Upper Lobe Resection Cognitive Task Trainer teaches residents to identify important physical structures like the right pulmonary artery, superior and inferior pulmonary veins, and the right pulmonary ligament. Students are able to learn and practices proper placement of the camera port, dissector port, and stapler port in safe and cost-effective environment.

Simbionix is another company that develops medical training simulators and clinical devices for minimally invasive surgical operations. Medical training simulators offer clinicians a virtual hands-on experience without putting patients at risk. Medical professionals are able to practice their existing skills and learn new procedures quickly and effectively, essential elements of ensuring quality outcomes in real-world medical procedures.

Simbionix Suturing Training Simulator

Since surgical training simulators are computer-based, they can act as both a training tool and an assessment device. Trainees are able to learn all of the skills necessary to master their craft and become proficient at a variety of procedures, while trainers are able to evaluate their performance based on a quantifiable metric of competence. The bottom line is that surgical simulators increase clinical proficiency and decrease medical errors and costs.

Training Simulations Maximize Insurance Company's Operational Eficiency

2010-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

It's common knowledge that training simulators and serious games help to improve an organization's performance and profitability. Usually when people think of simulation-based training they picture heavy equipment operator training, flight simulators, or medical procedure instruction, but not insurance training. However any industry that requires teamwork, problem solving, and the development of evolving sales and marketing strategies can benefit from simulation-based training.

BTS Group (NASDAQ OMX Exchange Stockholm: BTS q), a global leader in accelerating strategic alignment and execution, provides business training simulation tools that allow companies to develop the skills and capabilities within all levels of their organization to improve business results. Their Insurance Business Simulation allows companies to learn, practice and apply the principles, behaviors and skills necessary to manage their business successfully.

BTS recently announced a strategic partnership with Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), one of the largest publicly-traded health benefits companies, to provide a simulation-based training initiative for their executives. This simulation-based training tool will enable Humana's leaders to carry out the company's strategy of solving employer's cost problems through a consumer-centric value proposition. This insurance business training simulation will transform Humana's product and service offerings to meet changing market trends, grow revenue by balancing distribution channels, and reduce costs by implementing operational excellence initiatives.

Read more about BTS Business Simulations

Swiss Re (VTX:RUKN), the world's largest reinsurance company, offers an insurance management simulation product to their clients. Users of the simulation get training on the complete decision-making process involved in operating an insurance company. They learn by doing, a technique acknowledged as one of the most effective learning methods when it comes to education, training, and instruction. Swiss Re’s insurance training simulation provides the opportunity for users to play the role of an insurance company’s senior management team.

Swiss Re's insurance management simulator tasks users with trying to optimize the market position and build shareholder value for a fictitious insurance company. Multiple competing insurance companies interact within the software that simulates the current economic market and competitive environment. The team for each company must develops and execute a business strategy and plan to manages their company over the course of several simulated years.

Read more about Swiss Re's Insurance Management Simulation

Farmers Insurance, the third largest insurance group in the US, hired ForgeFX to develop a 3D training simulation to train their insurance claims agents, and are also using IMB's INNOV8 to train their 11,500 call center employees. INNOV8 is a 3D business process management simulation game that allows players to quickly see how simple practical process improvements can help improve profitability, customer satisfaction and environmental goals. Through the use of simulation-based training software, Farmers is able to reduce claim costs, claim frequency and the average cost of claims per policy.

Read more about IBM's INNOV8

"Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand." (Chinese proverb)

Regardless of your industry or business, training simulations can offer your organization many benefits that you might not otherwise achieve. Simulation-based training allows you to view and understand all the major aspects of your business, understand the fundamentals of creating and executing your business strategy, improve the skills necessary in analyzing and interpreting financial statements, and strengthen teamwork skills.

Heavy Equipment Training Simulators Provide Immediate Cost Savings

2010-10-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

Heavy equipment operator training simulators allow organizations to improve their bottom lines by reducing fuel consumption, limiting wear-and-tear on real-world equipment, and reducing accidents caused by inexperienced operators. Operators that receive simulation-based training demonstrate increased levels of productivity, pride in their profession, and higher levels of quality work. Organizations that train their heavy equipment operators on simulators report decreased levels of customer complaints, equipment downtime, accidents, and worker turnover. Manufacturers that offer training simulators with their products can expect higher levels of sales, customer satisfaction, and repeat business. In industries like mining and construction, that rely on heavy equipment and the people that operate them, these are all important components of running a successful and profitable business.

In this age of hyper-competition, companies that are able to differentiate themselves from their competitors will succeed, while those who don't will risk becoming obsolete. Many heavy equipment manufacturers have already deployed operator training simulators, while many others are rapidly developing them, in order to set themselves apart and stay ahead of their competition.

Volvo Wheel Loader Simulation

When it comes to training for heavy equipment operation, without risking injury to operator or machine, The Volvo wheel loader simulator is a great example of this concept. It provides an economical and efficient way of increasing safety and productivity. The simulator tracks operator's performance and compiles their statistics, making the simulation a valuable tool for tracking employee's development over time. Inexperienced operators can train in a safe environment and achieve higher levels of productivity in a shorter amount of time, while experienced operators can sharpen their skills and practice for more difficult maneuvers.

Volvo Wheel Loader Simulator Demo Video

Hitachi Mining and Excavator Simulator

The Hitachi EX5500-5 hydraulic shovel training simulator, developed with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) controls and instrumentation, provides authentic training that leads to increased productivity and safety while reducing unscheduled maintenance on real-world equipment. Since vehicle efficiency can vary up to 40% based on the experience of an operator, simulation-based training can quickly lead to cost savings for any organization.

Hitachi Mining and Excavator Simulator Demo Video

Simulation-based training is the best way to keep personnel safe, machinery free from mishaps, and avoid unplanned maintenance costs caused by under-trained operators. Operator training simulators help organizations dramatically lower costs and address safety and production concerns while ensuring training can be conducted at anytime, regardless of weather conditions, increasing fuel costs, or other prohibitive real-world barriers.

Serious Games Improve Business Training

2010-10-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

These days serious games and training simulations are being used in just about every industry and type of business. While it's true that the military, medical, and disaster-response fields lead the way in using simulations to train their people, more and more we are seeing games and simulators used for just about every type of business training. When it comes to training, serious games that immerse users in subject material have been proven to be cost-effective and lead to increased levels of knowledge retention - critical components of business training.

IBM INNOV8: Business Process Management Game

IBM, the world's 4th largest technology company, is leading the way in using serious games for business training. One of their latest products, named INNOV8, is an online 3D serious game that teaches the basics of business process management. Players of the game must work to solve typical problems that many business face. Scenarios include everything from evaluating a traditional supply chain model to reduce a company's carbon footprint, to reorganizing a call center in order to develop more efficient ways to respond to customers, to working with a municipality to lower traffic congestion and pollution levels.

INNOV8: IBM's Business Process Management Game

The game allows users to learn the anatomy of a business process model and collaborate with coworkers to change that model and improve business operations. Concepts taught by the game include process modeling, activity monitoring, team collaboration, analysis, and optimization. Players are able to manage and interact with processes by taking advantage of powerful analysis technology and real-time monitoring capabilities.

INNOV8: Business Architecture Heat Map

Combining the basic economics of software distribution and the learn-by-doing principle, serious games allow organizations to train their employees in a fun, engaging, and cost-effective way. Companies all around the world are using serious games to introduce new skills, evaluate business performance, and develop leadership capabilities in their employees. Games are highly experiential software applications that foster deep levels of cognitive activity and higher-level thinking skills. IBM states that people retain information anywhere from 80 and 108 percent better when learning through serious games as opposed to more traditional training methods.

INNOV8: Business Modeling Tool

If you're charged with improving process management in a business environment that is constantly changing, you're aware of the challenges associated with keeping employees engaged with training material. Using serious games as a training tool allows you to help your organization better understand how effective business process management impacts an entire business ecosystem. Serious games and simulations allow you to identify bottlenecks, evaluate profitability, reduce implementation time, and view the processes in operation before you deploy them into real-world production so that you can optimize process cost, efficiency, and effectiveness.

In today's challenging economy, businesses need to take advantage of every tool available to them. Serious games and training simulations allow your organization to make informed business decisions, test proposed processes, and study the results before committing valuable resources.

Simulation Software is Cost-Effective for Emergency Response Training

2010-10-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

When it comes to training for mission critical tasks, emergency response and first responder rank as some of the most important and difficult activities to train for. In today's economy, where emergency management agencies worldwide are finding their budgets slashed, it's becoming even harder to train for disasters. This is where simulation-based training software comes in, a safe and cost-effective method to train for something you hope may never happen, but something agencies must be prepared for. Simulation-based training is used to prepare for every kind of emergency, from public health, to hazardous materials, to natural disasters, to homeland security threats.

Last month an article in Emergency Management magazine included the following quote from Dale Hall, former director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory:

"Simulation is a valuable tool for emergency response and can be used for vulnerability assessment, planning, training and decision support. It was identified as the only feasible approach when it is difficult to do real-life experiments, as is the case for homeland security applications."

The article references a number of different emergency response training simulator systems that are currently in use to provide training and education to first responders.

Advanced Disaster Management Simulator

The New York City Office of Emergency Management has partnered with Environmental Tectonics Corp. to use their Advanced Disaster Management Simulator. The software allows them to test their ability to implement the citywide incident management system. High-fidelity 3D graphics, complex interactivity, and audio create a highly immersive, chaotic and stressful environment for first responders to train in.

HYDRA Simulator

The Los Angeles Police Department is the first governmental agency in the US to deploy a HYDRA simulator, an immersive simulator for critical incident training. The simulator system, located in the Ahmanson Recruit Training Center, allows the police to train for everything from earthquakes to acts of terrorism, which may give law enforcement a significant advantage during the next disaster.

Ops-Plus

Dartmouth College's Interactive Media Laboratory and Institute for Security Technology Studies created the Ops-Plus for WMD Hazmat program to help first responders train for terrorism response. Ops-Plus, part of the Virtual Terrorism Response Academy, allows officials to train in an immersive 3D environment for threats ranging from chemical, to biological, to radiological, to nuclear.

It requires highly specialized training to be a first responder when it comes to disasters. Using immersive 3D simulators to train for disaster management allows first responders to gain this training without having to put themselves in harm's way. There may be no better way to develop first responder skills than to experience an actual disaster, but real-world disasters are rare and no place for inexperienced responders to gain on-the-job training. Disaster training simulators enable life-like training that can help agencies develop disaster management strategies that can ultimately save lives in a real-world disaster.

Health Care Industry Sets Training Simulation Standards

2010-10-04T21:03:00.001-07:00

The health care industry continues to set the standard when it comes to the advancement of training simulations. Educating health care professionals thorough the use of medical simulators allow clinicians to repeatedly practice complicated procedures while removing any risk to an actual patient.

Boston Scientific SimSuite

Hon Mai and Joseph Goodman Center for Simulation and Immersive Learning

Last week the Stanford School of Medicine opened the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge, a $90 million project. The center includes the Hon Mai and Joseph Goodman Center for Simulation and Immersive Learning. This 28,000-square-foot facility features a fully simulated hospital, with simulators for almost every clinical condition, including mannequins that bleed, breathe and talk.

Press Release: Center for Simulation and Immersive Learning

Medicine Meets Virtual Reality

In its 18th year, the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference will take place next year from February 9th to the 12th in Newport Beach, California. The presentations featured at this conference push the limits every year when it comes to the advancements in medical procedural training simulator technology. Some of the upcoming presentations that will be of interest to simulation developers include:

Needle Insertion Simulator with Haptic Feedback
Simulation-Based Program for Training Cardiac Surgery-Related Skills
Real-Time Electrocautery Simulation for Laparoscopic Surgical Environments
Prototype of a Neurosurgical Training Simulator
Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia using a High-Fidelity Simulator

Medicine Meets Virtual Reality: Conference Program

Medical Simulation Corporation

Medical Simulation Corporation builds some of the world's best high-fidelity medical simulators for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to stay current on new procedures. Manufactures of medical equipment that integrate a training simulator with their devices are able to differentiate their products from their competitors, and allow their clients to achieve higher clinical outcomes.

Medical Simulation Corporation Marketing Video

In a rapidly advancing field like health care, where there are new devices and techniques being introduced every day, a training simulator allows medical professionals to obtain new skills that they might not otherwise learn. In addition to medical simulators being great training tools, they are also great marketing tools for the manufacturers of medical procedure equipment. The faster a physician is able to master a device, the more they will use that product, which will lead to more sales for the manufacturer of that product.

Integrating a training simulator with a medical procedure equipment product leads to faster levels of product adoption, increased rate of sales, enhanced market visibility, and higher levels of patient safety.

U.S. Department of Defense Announces Latest Contract Awards

2010-09-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

Even in a tight economic climate like the one we're in now, the military continues to invest millions of dollars in training simulation technology. The reason? Training simulators work. The ROI that training simulators deliver is tangible: fewer resources are used, fewer engine-use hours are logged on real-world equipment, trainees are kept out of harms way, and operators can practice difficult maneuvers repeatedly until they are fully mastered.

The U.S. Department of Defense released a list today of their latest contract awards. Two projects of interest on the list are the following 2 training simulator projects, with budgets totaling more than $21 million to be spent by the end of the fiscal year.

VSD, LLC, a Virginia Beach, VA based company was awarded a $15 million undefinitized contract to develop four offshore support vessel training simulators to be used by Iraqi Naval Forces. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, Fla., is the contracting agency. The simulators are scheduled to be completed in October 2011.
Cubic Applications, Inc., a Lacey, Washington based company was awarded a $6.7 million firm-fixed-price contract to develop a virtual constructive & gaming-integrated training environment in support of Army training strategies for the U.S. Army National Simulation Center. The Mission & Installation Contracting Command in Fort Eustis, Virginia is the contracting agency. The simulators are scheduled to be completed in August 2011.

U.S. Department of Defense Contract List, September 29, 2010

Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag

2010-09-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last week Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag took place in Melbourne Australia. Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag is the largest virtual military simulation event ever to take place, and was hosted this year by The Australian Defense Science and Technology Organization. Australian, American, British and Canadian defense forces participated in a four-day simulated session to train and plan for joint-combat missions around the world. The exercise is a virtual air war that allows soldiers to train alongside coalition forces in realistic theater-level combat scenarios.

Royal Australian Air Force pilots, at the Air Operations Simulation Center in Melbourne, joined the virtual exercise in their virtual F/A-18 Hornets located in the center's sophisticated simulation cube and dome facilities. At the same time, United States Air Force pilots participated in the simulation from the Distributed Mission Operations Center located at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, which is where the exercise was hosted last year. Over 600 hundred soldiers were connected simultaneously, from more than 25 separate facilities, across 3 different continents.

The Australian Minister for Defense Science and Personnel, Hon Warren Snowdon MP, who facilitated this year's exercise, said in a July 2010 Military Technology News article on Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag:

"Virtual exercises are a valuable means of determining important combat mission data in an environment that is safer, less expensive and requires fewer resources. The outcome of the exercise is expected to benefit participating nations by providing mission-critical information relevant to future deployments.”

The Distributed Mission Operations Center in New Mexico was recently recognized by the Pentagon, and awarded the Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Award for Training. In a United Press International article, Brigadier General Steve Hoog, USAF Warfare Center Commander said:

"Realistic, integrated virtual training using high-fidelity models and simulations is no longer the wave of the future, it is the here and now. Through exercises like Virtual Flag, the Air Force's primary venue to train the entire Theater Air Control System from the Air Operations Center to the shooters, the great folks at the Distributed Mission Operations Center are building and enhancing joint combat capabilities that will increase the likelihood of victory in the next conflict."

It's clear from the investment and commitment that militaries around the world put toward simulation-based training, that these tools and techniques not only work well, but are a necessary component of any training process that involves complex systems, processes, or equipment.

Mining & Drilling Industry Relies On 3D Training Simulators

2010-09-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

These days we are seeing more and more industries that require the use of heavy equipment and expensive consumables turn to 3D simulators when it comes to training employees. The Mining and Drilling Industry is no exception.

The July, 2010 issue of Drilling Contractor (the official magazine of the International Association of Drilling Contractors) featured an article discussing the major hazards present on offshore oil and gas structures, and how simulation-based training can be used to overcome these dangers.

Interestingly enough, the articles says that most fatal injuries that occur on offshore gas and oil rigs are due to the lifting of equipment. And while providing training simulators for operators to learn on is not new, providing multi-user 3D training simulations for entire crews to train on is. Using technology typically reserved for online video games, multi-user 3D training simulators allow organizations to train their employees on techniques and maneuvers that require a team to work together collaboratively.

Traditional training materials will always have their place, but more and more companies are turning to simulation technology to make sure their employees are receiving the highest possible level of training. In addition, the younger generations spend more and more time working with computers, on the internet, watching televisions, and using cell phones - to this so-called "Net Generation", traditional training materials may fail where newer technology solutions may succeed.

The article references a study done by Chief Learning Officer magazine that draws the following conclusion in regards to simulation-based learning:

"Simulation-based training was seen to have a positive effect and was recommended for ongoing or expanded use in every case. In equipment maintenance, for example, it was found that trainees achieved the same level of proficiency in nearly 60% less time. In truck driving, one hour in a simulator was found to be equivalent to four hours on the road, and operators used less fuel."

Luminant, the largest competitive power generation business in Texas, has a new training facility in East Texas that provides state-of-the-art training simulators to their employees to ensure the safe operation of critical mining equipment. From operating a dragline, to driving a hauler through a mine, the simulators allow operators to train for daily activities before ever putting lives, equipment, or materials at risk.

Luminant Simulator Video

The complexity and cost of modern mining equipment, demands highly skilled and well trained operators. Such operators are required to consistently achieve high production targets while maintaining exceptionally high levels of safety - individually challenging tasks, done simultaneously they become exponentially more difficult. This is where training simulators come in. 3D training simulators are well suited to provide year-round training of mining and drilling related tasks so that operators are as well prepared as possible.

To this end, The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy recently purchased a load haul dumper and an articulated dump truck simulator from ThoroughTec:

"Each simulator cab is a highly realistic replica of the actual equipment, allowing the student to fully familiarize themselves with the controls, instruments and operating procedures. Emergency procedures such as engine fires, tire blow-outs and brake failures can also be safely practiced over and over again on the simulator without fear of damaging equipment or endangering lives - impossible to execute in any other manner. Simulator trained operators are therefore better prepared to deal with these hazardous situations should they occur in the underground environment."

Just like the aviation industry, that is obsessed with safety and the bottom line, more and more industries rely on simulations to help them overcome the training challenges they face.

Zen Bus Driving Simulator

2010-09-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Check out Zen Technology's Bus Driving Simulator, used to provide standardized training by India's State Transport Department:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5nPOTOFTl4

Drivers must learn to operate the vehicle and handle a number of challenging conditions like traffic, precipitation, freezing temperatures, and dust. The simulation software tests the driver's ability to preform critical tasks, for example the amount of time it takes them to bring the bus to a complete stop in the case of an emergency.

The simulator monitors driver's fuel consumption rates, to alert administrators to inefficient driving, and also delivers a list of all driver mistakes at the end of a simulator session. In the transportation industry, where fuel costs are at a premium, 3D simulators help operators gain the necessary expertise, while allowing organizations to overcome the high costs typically associated with heavy equipment training.

NASA's Moonbase Alpha - Online 3D Space Exploration Game

2010-08-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released Moonbase Alpha, a free online 3D video game that runs on the Steam network, an online game platform with more than 25 million accounts. NASA teamed up with Virtual Heroes, the US Army's game development studio, to develop this realistic multiplayer lunar simulator. Moonbase Alpha is a precursor to a planned NASA-based massively multiplayer online (MMO) game called Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond.

Moonbase Alpha allows players to join a virtual exploration team that is working on repairing and maintaining a lunar settlement. After a meteor strike cripples the settlement's solar array and life support equipment, the team must work together to restore oxygen flow to the base and other critical services.

Players are able to build, and pilot, robotic repair rovers, that demonstrate lunar physics, in order to work together to make repairs on the settlement.

As with many disaster response training simulators, there are multiple ways to solve the problems the players are presented with. Effective teamwork and intelligent decisions allow players to make the necessary repairs before life support systems shut down.

NASA Moonbase Alpha - Official Trailer

The plan for Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond is to expand the universe of the game, while teaching gamers about the realities of space travel, as well as math and science. The game is being developed in order to help students develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields knowledge and skills.

Moonbase Alpha is a great example of how using realistic interactive 3D simulations, to demonstrate aerospace engineering technologies, can engage and educate students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With the educational potential of online 3D games being rapidly recognized, NASA is actively developing this virtual online collaborative laboratory for students to develop the thinking, planning, learning, and technical skills that are required to compete in today's academic and professional disciplines.

Download the game for free from Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/39000/

Oil Drilling Simulators Increase Safety, Efficiency, and Cost Savings

2010-06-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

With everything going on in the news right now about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s clear that the drilling industry needs to increase the amount of training their personnel receive. Interactive 3D simulators are an essential components of a training curriculum when it comes to complicated systems like oil or gas rigs - where a small mistake can lead to a catastrophic accident.

KCA Deutag, an international oil and gas services company based in the UK, has developed a real-time 3D drilling simulator that gives users virtual hands-on training for rig and drilling operations. The simulator allows a rig crew to train and practice for the drilling of wells in an environmentally and physically safe way. Mistakes made during simulated sessions will have no effect on the surrounding environment, serve as a lesson for what not to do, and allow operators to avoid making the same mistake in the real-world.

Drilling Systems Limited, another UK-based company, offers their own line of simulators for the oil and gas industry. The simulators deliver operator training for well sites, wellheads, refineries, offshore cranes, and port cranes. Training oil and gas rig operators on a simulator, rather than the real-world facility, can help to reduce the risk to the environment and the amount of rig downtime – both of which lead to a more predictable bottom line.

Kongsberg Gruppen, a Norwegian-based company that supplies high-tech systems to the oil and gas industry, merchant marine, and defense and aerospace industries, offers a training simulator for the oil and gas industry as well. Kongsberg’s K-Spice is a process simulator for detailed design and verification of oil and gas processes and control systems at all stages of the process. Kongsberg’s clients report the simulator is an invaluable tool for oil rig operational procedure training, which translates into operator confidence and a increased level of productivity.

If you’re tasked with training personnel to operate complicated systems like oil rigs, you’re aware of the safety and financial risks associated with conducting training on real-world facilities. Interactive 3D simulators give your operators the ability to learn and train effectively while reducing physical, environmental, and financial risks.

Medical Training Simulators Improve Hospital's Bottom Lines

2010-04-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Medical training simulators are rapidly becoming one of the most effective and popular uses of simulation-based training software. Medical training simulations can improve the bottom line by providing safe and relatively inexpensive training across many different medical specialties. In addition to providing new training for existing surgical procedures, medical training simulators are critical when it comes to training surgeons for robot-assisted surgeries which are becoming more common every day. Everyone benefits from medical training simulators, including medical and surgical equipment manufacturers, hospital administrators and surgeons, and even patients.

Simulated Surgical Systems provides a Robotic Surgical Simulator (ROSS) that is used to familiarize and train surgeons on the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery system, practicing everything from cutting tissue and sewing incisions, to complete surgical procedures. The ROSS is divided into three levels:

Motor skills: teaches surgeons the hand-eye coordination skills necessary to work with the robot.

Clinical applications: teaches surgeons how to perform the specific elements of surgical procedures.

Procedures: surgeons must perform virtual hysterectomies and prostatectomy, the 2 most commonly preformed robotic surgery procedures.

Medical simulations are becoming so popular that Banner Health has just established the Banner Simulation Medical Center, a virtual hospital used to train physicians and nurses before they ever treat actual patients.

The Banner Simulation Medical Center, located in Mesa, Arizona, is a 55,000 square foot facility capable of training more than 1,800 medical personnel on patient care situations common to intensive care units, emergency rooms, and operating rooms (including virtual surgery simulators).

Banner Simulation Medical Center Grand Opening Video

Click to watch the Banner Medical Center Grand Opening Video

Health and Hospitals and the City of New York have also started construction on a medical simulation center that will be New York City's largest and most advanced medical training technology center. This $10 million, 10,000 square foot facility located on the Jacobi Medical Center campus in the Bronx, will simulate emergency room, operating room, and other patient care settings to help train health care professionals to master medical procedures. Expected to be completed by the fall of 2010, the simulation center will be able to train 14,000 medical professionals in it's first 3 years of operation.

Medical training simulators are revolutionizing medicine, changing the age-old approaches to training and teaching, and challenging the status quo. Taking advantage of the latest technology allows forward-thinking companies and hospitals to stay ahead of their competitors by providing the highest level of medical training, in a virtual environment where the worst-case scenario is a reboot, and not the loss of an actual patient.

Hospitals have found that the use of medical training simulations can reduce the amount of surgical errors, create time savings in both procedural and instructional settings, provide a reduction in real-world equipment repair costs (due to less trainee access), as well as provide a revenue stream by selling training time on the simulator. Medical training simulators allow for enhanced recruiting, better trainee evaluation, and a higher overall quality of care.

UPS Trains Drivers With Interactive 3D Driving Simulators

2010-04-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

If the training of drivers is part of your business, then driving simulators are for you. United Parcel Service, in an effort to fix the 30% flunk rate of candidates for their almost 100,000 U.S. based driver positions, have integrated an interactive 3D driving game into their training curriculum.

UPS Integrad is a next-generation training facility located just outside of Washington, D.C., with a second location opening in Chicago soon. Using a collection of simulations, employee candidates train for the company's "340 Methods", practices created by their industrial engineers meant to save money and time, as well as improve safety.

In a Wall Street Journal article titled "UPS Thinks Out of the Box on Driver Training", Jennifer Levitz reports that other companies like FedEx, Cisco, and Sodexo are also using simulation-based tools to train their employees.

Companies that adopt new technology are more likely to beat their competitors and survive in turbulent economic times. Driving simulators have been proven to be effective educational tools that teach safe driving techniques to operators of all classes of vehicles.

UPS plans to hire 25,000 new drivers over the next five years, their revenue is predicted to increase 8-10% in 2010, and the S&P gives their stock a 4 star buy rating - they must be doing something right. Does your company provide simulation-based training?

Driving simulators prove useful for new drivers

2010-04-06T18:15:00.001-07:00

With the always increasing cost of gas, and the speed of computers, driving simulators have proven to be cost-effective and useful tools when it comes to training new drivers. These days just about every entry level computer you can buy comes with hardware acceleration capable of running real-time 3D simulations. Coupled with a USB steering wheel/pedal set and you're staff is ready to hit the virtual road.

SimuRide, developed by AplusB Software, is a personal driving simulator for beginners who are studying for their driver's license test. This home-based simulator provides a safe introduction to operating a vehicle, where students can practice their driving skills in a virtual world, without the need for expensive gas, supervision, or even a driver's permit. Drivers can gain an understanding of complex maneuvers like parallel parking, passing other vehicles, and merging onto a highway before they ever enter a vehicle.

Available in both Home and Professional versions, the SimuRide Home Edition is available for $75 while the Professional Editions cost between $800 and $1,000. For another $100 you can purchase alcohol glasses for the simulator that simulate drunk driving. http://aplusbsoftware.com/online-shop-us.html

Just like flight simulators are the natural choice for new pilots, driving simulators are a natural choice when it comes to training students how to drive a car. When training is required for specialized vehicles that simulators are not commercially available for, companies turn to simulator software development companies to produce training simulators for their operators. For example, ForgeFX developed an Aircraft Deicing Simulator for Global Ground Support's customers to train to operate the equipment:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200902/1234202704.html

CNN report on simulating roadside bombs

2010-03-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

With improvised explosive device (IED) attacks more than doubling in the past year in Afghanistan they have become the number one threat to soldiers. The US Army is turning to a training simulator to help prevent soldiers from dying in IED attacks.

The simulator trains soldiers to look for "signatures and observables" that are indicators of potential IED attacks. The training simulator uses up-to-date intelligence and data gathered at a military operations center near Ft. Eustis, Virgina. This data is analyzed and converted for use by the game development engine that runs the simulation software. This allows the simulation to accurately replicate current combat conditions, providing soldiers with valuable training.

When the safety of a nation is at stake, simulation-based learning is a clear cut choice in training. For other mission-critical tasks, and when lives are in the balance, interactive 3D training simulators lead to a higher level of success.

Caterpillar Provides Cost Saving Training Simulators

2010-03-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

If you're in the heavy equipment industry, simulators can provide cost savings for your customers. The market leaders in the construction and mining equipment industry are using virtual training simulators to deliver cost saving and safety benefits. In order to compete in today's competitive market, you need to deliver training simulators with your equipment.

A great example is Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar, better known as CAT, is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. CAT delivers increased safety and cost savings to their customers through Caterpillar Virtual Training Systems and their custom line of heavy equipment training simulators.

These 3D training simulators are available to the public on the Cat Simulators web site. CAT sells their simulators to customers requiring training on Large and Small Wheel Loaders, Mining and Medium Off-Highway Trucks, and Hydraulic Excavators. The prices range from $11,000 for their Motor Grader Simulator to $25,000 for their Mining Truck Simulator.

The CAT equipment operator training simulators are designed to increase the bottom lines of companies that are using real-world CAT heavy equipment. Suited for both inexperienced and experienced equipment operators, the training simulators provide safety, production, and cost saving benefits to customers.

Cost Saving Benefits

Does not require expensive consumables, like diesel fuel and oil.
Does not increase engine-use hours on real-world equipment, lowering maintenance costs.
Leaves real-world equipment available for billable work.

Safety Benefits

Operators can practice complicated maneuvers until they master them.
Operators can become familiar with equipment controls before entering real-world vehicles.
Training can occur at any time, regardless of weather, time of day, etc

The simulators include a training curriculum that takes an operator from machine control comprehension, to basic equipment operation, to complex machine tasks and mining operation scenarios. The Mining Truck Simulator trains and orients operators on machine operation as well as equipment-specific tasks like loading, hauling, and dumping. The simulator tracks an operator's performance and delivers a scoring report across more than 20 different criteria, including the user's scenario execution time, total time spent in reverse gear, average break temperature, and number of collisions - valuable data when assessing an operator's ability.

The world's largest manufacturer of heavy machinery delivers hands-on training in a safe and economical way by providing operators with virtual training simulators that teach machine controls, operating procedures, and complex construction and mining tasks. CAT's training simulators produce safer operators and result in many cost-reduction benefits for CAT's customers.

Caterpillar achieved better than expected earnings in Q1, with 2010 revenue estimated between $38 billion and $42 billion. On average, analysts are estimating a $2.66 profit on CAT shares in 2010.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you're not offering a training simulator with your product, you cannot be competitive with the top industry players.

Heavy equipment training simulators increase safety and cost-savings

2010-03-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

If you're charged with training people to operate heavy equipment, you're aware of the financial and safety challenges associated with conducting training on real-world equipment. Using highly-realistic simulators attached to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) controls, allows you to provide your operators with a safe and cost effective training environment.

A good example of one of these simulation systems from the mining industry is featured in the Australian Mining News, March 23, 2010 interview with Brad Rouse, Director at ThoroughTec, a company that specializes in the development of mining simulators.

“Traditional methods of training meant that managers would have no option but to let inexperienced operators drive expensive machinery and accept the increased risk of wear and tear, damage, maintenance costs and potential injury.”

"The cost of removing machinery from production for training as well as the potential damage to the machine is ineffective for mine sites."

Heavy equipment training simulators are used globally by leading mining, engineering, and construction companies, transforming the way industries train their heavy equipment operators.

The benefits of simulation-based training include increased safety, less wear and tear on machinery leading to less down time and production interruptions, and an increased understanding of machine operation. In addition, training simulators can be used to evaluate prospective trainee's abilities and allow experienced operators to keep their skills sharp.

Canadian Air Force report predicts a sharp increase in aerospace training simulation usage

2010-03-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

The report, by the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre, and release at the end of 2009 is titled "Projecting Power: Trends Shaping Canada’s Air Force in the Year 2019". The report takes a detailed look at the short term future security environment—specifically the trends, drivers and strategic shocks—that will impact on existing and emerging Air Force concepts and doctrinal designs.

What we found most interesting about this report was the Science and Technology Trends section, specifically the Advances in Simulation Technology sub-section. The report predicts that in ten years computing power and simulation technology will have advanced to the point where 3D simulations will replace training that is currently conducted in actual flight operations.

“If the increase in computing power continues, one can expect a 1,000 to 3,000 percent increase in computing power by the 2019 time frame. For simulation technology, the flight in a 2019 simulator (designed and built with 2015 technology) is expected to provide an experience that is practically on par with actual flying conditions."

The Declining Energy Resources Section predicts rapidly increasing fuel costs, declining crude oil production levels, and less access to reliable energy sources. Coupled with the advancement in simulation technology, it is predicted that using aerospace training simulators will greatly help to offset fuel costs. The report warns that due to rising energy prices over the next 10 years, the Air Force will spend between 200 and 500 million Canadian Dollars on aviation fuel annually.

"The latest simulators of tomorrow’s time frame will be capable of replacing first-stage flight training as well as most collective and operational flight training.”

The report concludes that simulation training technology will be critical in order to counter rising energy prices and still meet the demands of increased number of military operations due to geopolitical instability, without reducing the amount of training pilots receive.

You can read the entire report here: Projecting Power: Trends Shaping Canada's Air Force in the Year 2019

If you’re a training simulation sponsor or considering having a simulation developed for your business, you may be interested in a new Canadian report. The report basically quantifies what we know from common sense: systems that are based around digital technology are going to continue to see exponential improvements in performance along with similar decreases in cost. Although non-simulated real-world training programs do see quality improvements and find costs efficiencies over time, these gains are limited by real-world constraints. For example costs for energy consumption, fuel usage, physical materials, etc. These limits don’t apply to simulated systems. As technology advances, expect to get more and more for your simulation training budget in the future.

The 3 Stages of Performance Enhancement through Simulation

2010-03-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

Don’t take the title the wrong way, this post is all business.

With conventional training, your staff learns competency. This is training for the basics – and that’s about where it stops until operators start getting hands-on experience. With simulation training, performance can be enhanced beyond basic competency prior to real-world experience. Further, seasoned operators can play out optimization experiments in a simulation environment which might not be practical or are too time consuming in a real-world situation.

The 3 stages of performance:

Learning to Do
Learning to Do Quickly
Learning to Do Optimally

Let’s say that your business revolves around the efficient operation of farmer equipment. Safe operation is the baseline requirement, but beyond that, your most efficient operators are the one that really pay the bills.

Learning to Do

The first stage of training is just learning how to get the job done.

In the hay baling example above, a new simulation trainee learns how to steer the hay baler and begin the hay collection and baling process. Their route is semi-random as they’re getting their bearings.

Learning to Do Quickly

After mastering the basic techniques of operating the equipment, the operator takes a systematic approach and goes row by row to collect and bale hay.

Learning to Do Optimally

By experimenting within the simulation environment, and reinforced by a tight feedback loop of performance assessment, scoring, and timing, the operator discovers an optimal approach. By taking every other row, the time consuming tight turn-around at the end of each row is eliminated and scores improve.

Bottom Line

Even in a situation as trivial and simple as the efficient operation of a hay baler, optimization techniques can be found through experimentation. The key is that the operator is having a direct experience with the training material and is able to do trial and error refinements that aren’t possible in training that is non-experiential. Consider the optimization opportunities that are present in other systems which aren’t so simple, and the value of simulation training is clear.

Finding Quality Real-time 3D Simulation Demos

2010-03-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

One challenge for sponsors of new simulation projects is locating playable demos of existing simulations. One solution is to demo simulation-style retail games. While training simulations share many qualities of and often use the same technologies as retail games, they're not the same thing. Experiencing a true non-game training simulation product saves development time and money by taking advantage of design patterns that have worked for others.

An existing simulation will not include the exact equipment from your business and may not even be from the same industry, but many of the basic constructs are the same from simulation to simulation. For example, just about every simulation has a title screen, a range of user preferences or settings, ideally a tutorial mode, etc. Once into the actual simulation experience, elements such as virtual camera perspective (1st person vs. 3rd person), navigation controls, etc. also are common across a range a simulation applications.

The majority of completed training and sales simulation products are proprietary and not publicly available, but there are some notable exceptions. These are typically the more game-like simulations which have some appeal to a broad consumer audience. One example is the excellent retail Farming-Simulator 2009.

Farming-Simulator 2009 homepage:
http://www.landwirtschafts-simulator.de/index.php

Farming-Simulator 2009 demo download page:
http://www.landwirtschafts-simulator.de/demo.php

Title Screen

Settings Screen

Tutorials

Driving Tutorial

Hay Baling Tutorial

Taking an hour or so to download/install/demo a completed sim like this is time well spent. This type of demo gives your team and your simulation designer/developer a shared point of reference where you can start discussing what approaches you do and don't like and where you want your simulation to be similar or different.

Iraq & Afghanistan 3D Training Simulation Wins National Modeling & Simulation Award

2010-02-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

The University of Texas at Dallas, Arts & Technology (ATEC) Wins National Modeling and Simulation Award for a 3D Interactive Program: First Person Cultural Trainer.

ATEC's First Person Cultural Trainer (FPCT) is a real-time 3D serious game that provides soldiers with the necessary training on cultural issues and values in both Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the project sponsors for the game is the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

When playing the game the user must gain an understanding of social structures, values, and customs in different communities in order to navigate their way through the game and complete the four missions. In the past this kind of training was done using live actors and set creation, a costly and physically limiting solution. Using interactive 3D virtual gaming technology for non-entertainment purposes is affordable, easily distributable, and highly effective.

ATEC's FPCT has been featured at the Modeling & Simulation Leadership Summit and Interservice/Industry Training Simulation & Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2010/2/23-1251_Game-Trains-Soldiers-in-a-Virtual-Iraq-or-Afghanis_article.html

VSTEP Releases RescueSim Platform

2010-02-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

The thing to note about this product is that it is not simply a one-off simulation, but is instead a fully-featured toolkit to construct a variety of unique simulation scenarios (within the limits of the building blocks that are provided).

From http://www.rescuesim.com/:

RescueSim is training software that prepares public safety and security professionals for real-life incidents in a virtual environment.

RescueSim allows emergency crews to experience the incident as they would in real-life. They assess the situation and determine the best response strategy, implement it and then observe the consequences of their decisions.

RescueSim offers important benefits:
Train people whenever, wherever without time-consuming planning and preparation
Improve operational preparedness of the emergency response organisation
Reduce training costs
Learn new skills in a safe environment

Service Rig Drilling Training Simulation

2010-01-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Coole Immersive's Service Rig Training is a 3D simulation that enables service rig drilling workers to learn how to perform critical mining tasks according to industry standards in a safe and cost-effective environment.

This training simulation is a great example of how industries like Mining and Construction, and Oil and Gas, can benefit from using interactive 3D simulations to train their employees without the associated risks and costs of real-world training. The simulation allows the user to train for positions ranging from an Operator all the way down to a Junior Floor Hand, including nearly 60 competency-based training modules.

Coole Immersive's Service Rig Training

All we want for Christmas is a VisCube Immersive 3D Display

2009-12-22T21:59:00.000-08:00

The VisCube multi-screen 3D display provides users with a cave-like immersive virtual reality experience. Equipped with a Wii-like motion-tracking wand, users can interact with the simulation that surrounds them.

VisCube Enables Surgeons to Practice Procedures Virtually

The University of Alabama, Birmingham has acquired a VisCube and plans to use it to allow surgeon trainees to practice complicated operations on virtual patients before they ever step into an operating room. The mechanical engineering department plans to write VisCube simulations for dentistry, physical therapy and engineering.

CSIRO Develops 3D Colonoscopy Simulator

2009-12-18T01:32:00.000-08:00

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, has created a 3D colonoscopy training simulator that will enable trainee surgeons to interact with accurate computer-based simulations of the human colon. The simulator uses a modified clinical colonoscope and realistic haptic (force) feedback device to provide a lifelike clinical experience.

Rather than teach complex medical procedures like colonoscopy using real patients, surgical training simulations offer a safe and cost-effective training environment in which complicated procedures can be taught with no risk to patients.

Colonoscopy, considered the best examination for the detection and removal of precancerous polyps, is a difficult procedure to master, requiring trainee surgeons to perform 300 to 1,000 operations before reaching an expert level. Researchers at CSIRO's Preventative Health Flagship believe the simulator will help reduce the incidence of bowel cancer.

Read more about the CSIRO Colonoscopy Training Simulator.

Boeing Unveils New Visual Display For Simulation Applications

2009-12-15T22:18:00.000-08:00

Boeing unveiled its Constant Resolution Visual System (CRVS) at The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) this year. The CRVS, the company's newest visual display, helps simulation developers deliver immersive environments by providing a high-resolution "out-the-window" view for operators of equipment training simulations. The CRVS can be used for training operators of jets, rotorcrafts, or ground-based vehicles.

The CRVS will be production-ready in early 2010

"CRVS is unique because it offers the same high resolution throughout the entire viewing area, providing an uninterrupted field of view and unvarying target acuity," said Mark McGraw, Boeing vice president for Training Systems & Services. "It makes virtual training missions and other simulations more detailed and effective."

The CRVS's High Definition projector format is compatible with a wide variety of commercial-off-the-shelf projectors, and also uses significantly fewer projectors than other high-resolution displays, making it a more flexible and cost-effective solution.

BCIT Launches The CUBE

2009-12-11T23:31:00.000-08:00

British Columbia Institute of Technology Launches The CUBE: Centre for the use of 3D simulation technology, taking teaching and learning to a new level.

With a US$1 million grant from Lockheed Martin and $380,000 in software contributions from NGRAIN Corporation, BCIT has launched The Cube.

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/02/09 -- It will transform the way instructors teach and the way students learn at BCIT. It will bring the workplace into the classroom and enrich curriculum - virtually.

The CUBE initiative places 3D simulations of expensive, rare, and leading edge equipment into the hands of BCIT students, anytime, anywhere allowing learners to explore complex components and systems in a 3D virtual world before they touch the real thing.

Read the entire press release

Interactive 3D Equipment Simulation Saves U.S. Army Engineer School $14-million (USD)

2009-12-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

I/ITSEC 2009, Orlando FL

Canadian firm NGRAIN announced today at I/ITSEC that the US Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood – which trains soldiers how to repair and overhaul construction equipment that supports ground missions – is achieving a $14-million (USD) savings each year by using interactive 3D equipment simulators. The savings has enabled the school to extend the curriculum to include training on new vehicle technology.

“With NGRAIN-enabled courseware in our classrooms, we are able to shave 12 hours off the 40-hour brake system training block,” explained Cecil Caldwell, Chief, Maintenance Training Division, Fort Leonard Wood, US Army. “With an annual training load of approximately 1,200 students, this one-and-a half day reduction in training time translates to more than $14-million in savings per year. We now apply this savings to deliver training for new vehicle technology, including wet brakes maintenance and repair.”

http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/news/archive/2009/12/02/canadian-simulation-firm-saves-u-s-army-school-money.aspx

Game of the Show: Virtual Battlespace 2

2009-12-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

Although it was first released in 2007, Virtual Battlespace 2 by Bohemia Interactive seems to be the gold standard for virtual training simulations. This is the project that is referenced most consistently across the various sessions at the I/ITSEC conference.

The nice thing about this clip is that the specific simulation features are named as you go through the video.

Given this is for the military, there's a lot of shooting going on in this clip, but there's also a good deal of general features that you'd want to see in any simulation creation engine.

IITSEC Training Simulation Conference - Day 0

2009-11-29T17:37:00.000-08:00

A pre-conference pre-crowd shot from the Orlando IITSEC 2009 conference on training simulations.

The IITSEC 2009 schwag. Note the all-important Rockwell-Collins sponsored anti H1N1 hand sanitizer.

Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games

2009-11-25T11:13:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest from Clark Aldrich, a great industry participant and thinker, "The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games". This is a combination encyclopedia, style guide, and survival guide for those interested in deploying or developing simulations. Clark has a great ability to find and describe common patterns across the wide array of simulations that exist.

I/ITSEC Conference on Training Simulations

2009-11-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

If you're able, be sure to check out the I/ITSEC conference on training simulations. This is the largest conference that focuses exclusively on simulations and training. The show includes panels and tutorials and is relevant for both purchasers and developers of simulators and simulation technology.

If you can't make I/ITSEC, there's also the Serious Games Summit at the Game Developers conferences in San Franciso starting March 9th, 2010.

Creating Low-poly Models for Your Simulation

2009-10-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

This post shows the process involved in getting your raw high-poly 3D assets into a form that is ready for a real-time interactive simulation. It's important to understand that this process is necessary and to factor in development time accordingly.

As an example, we'll show a few production images of the F-22 being developed for an aircraft deicing training simulation being built in partnership with Global Ground Support.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/forgefx/

Custom Application Development and Sole Source Awards

2009-09-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

The highly specialized nature of custom application development for training simulation software leads to strong partnerships and sole source awards. Global Ground Support's custom-developed simulator software has a function by function parity to their real-world equipment. This tight integration of hardware and software gives manufacturers who also offer associated simulation products a strong competitive advantage in the marketplace - no one else can offer software which so closely matches the manufacturers equipment.

According to Federal Business Opportunities:

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE: The 3rd Contracting Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska intends to award a sole source purchase order to Global Ground Support, LLC for the acquisition of a Global De-Icing Training Simulator required in support of the Elmendorf AFB Wing Flying mission. Global Ground Support is the only supplier of a de-icing simulator designed specifically for the de-icing vehicles used at Elmendorf AFB.

This purchase will be made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Other Than Full and Open Competition as authorized by FAR 13.501. The anticipated award date is 19 Aug 2009. Please note that this is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all interested parties who believe they can meet the requirements are invited to submit in writing complete information describing their ability to provide the product listed above. Deadline date for the submittals is 18 Aug 2009 at 4 pm Alaska Standard Time.

ForgeFX Develops 3D Pig Farm Training Simulation for Pfizer Animal Health

2009-08-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

ForgeFX partnered with Carthage Veterinary Services to develop the Pfizer Animal Health Virtual Pork Production Simulation, named Virtual Walking the Pens. Pfizer Animal Health’s dedication to the health and wellness of animals, and a commitment to research combine to help protect the health of farm animals and the productivity of livestock. The training and education taught by the simulator allows pork producers to help pigs stay healthy, resulting in a more profitable operation. This interactive 3D simulation allows users to work in a virtual 3D farm, diagnosing and treating pigs at the first sign of disease, which is the key to a successful pork production business.

This custom interactive 3D simulation, available in both French and English, allows Pfizer customers to do a virtual barn-walkthrough of a wean-to-finish farm, identifying and treating sicknesses in the barn. Once a player has identified issues they must take the appropriate action to correct the problem, or experience the consequences in the barn and the effect on their bottom line. The simulation allows the user to experience many different scenarios within the virtual environment, similar to those that pork producers deal with on a daily basis in the real world. Ranging from pigs with neurological problems, to clogged waterers and feeders, to Mulberry heart disease, the simulation provides a virtual barn for the users to work in, spotting and treating sick pigs. The user's score, determined by the level of profitability attained by the virtual farm, is tracked by the simulation and delivered at the conclusion of a session, along with assessments and recommendations for a higher level of efficiency.

The purpose of this training simulation is not to replace existing training, but to provide supplemental education to the existing training curriculum. The simulation is a great training tool for new employees as well as a valuable refresher for those who are already experienced in pork production. Knowing how to quickly identify and treat illnesses is crucial to running a profitable livestock farm. This 3D simulation provides a risk-free environment for farmers to experience the potential pitfalls of pork production and avoid them in the future, when real-world situations confront them. Farmers are able to experiment with different barn management techniques to find the approach that works best, something that is easy to do in a simulation, but not possible or practical in the real-world. Risks to livestock, personnel, and material consumption are removed in the simulation, making it a valuable tool for teaching and training.

Combining deep content expert knowledge with proven interactivity models, Pfizer Animal Health, Carthage Veterinary Services, and ForgeFX developed this 3D simulation that allows users to quickly grasp the controls and get to work in a virtual barn. The simulated barn is fully functional, including interactive water medicators, curtain controllers, fans, thermostats, feeders, mats, lights, and of course pigs. The simulation promotes education and improved health of all the animals in the operation.

Learn more and download the 3D simulation here.

Adobe Success Story: ForgeFX: Interactive 3D Simulations

2009-06-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

ForgeFX creates competitive advantage for itself and clients with Adobe Director and Adobe Shockwave Player software.

Whether they need to train employees how to accomplish mission-critical tasks or educate potential donors or customers, many organizations are tapping into the power of interactive 3D training simulations and role-playing games. By providing a simulated experience, organizations can help employees, customers, and others learn by doing without the high costs and risks of learning in the field.

ForgeFX relies on Adobe software due to its flexibility and ability to deliver a rich, high-performance user experience. Offering cross-platform offline executable deployment and online browser-based delivery with the Shockwave Player, Director applications can easily be viewed on any computer, enabling superior mass distribution. Users have the convenience of either online or offline content consumption with the ubiquitous Shockwave Player, already installed on more than 450 million Internet-enabled desktops.

One of the main benefits of Director over many other development platforms is its real-time 3D rendering engine. Because Director is a high-level development environment, as opposed to a custom low-level one-off 3D rendering engine, 3D rendering code is delivered out of the box, allowing developers like ForgeFX to concentrate on game and simulation logic. Director also enables ForgeFX to build simulations that include complex physics-based realism.

The new NVIDIA PhysX engine in Adobe Director 11.5 allows us to expand and build advanced dynamic motion and interaction into our simulations and games resulting in a richer user experience. Advanced physics, real-time 3D rendering, and a solid, mature platform with a rock-solid runtime engine are several factors that make Director our primary development platform.

Read the full article which discusses a couple of recent projects developed by ForgeFX using Adobe Director.

Kran-Simulator 2009

2009-06-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Okay let's have some fun today! Kran-Simulator 2009 developed by Astragon, a German video game company, is a great interactive 3D simulation, serious game, and training simulation.

The game allows users to jump into a virtual crane, take the controls, and try their hand at moving million dollar equipment around. A task you'd never play around with in the real-world, but in a simulated environment with all risks removed, it becomes a fun game. The game is an effective interactive 3D simulation that allow users to quickly learn and practice the basic principles of operating a crane. Users that have 2 joysticks attached to their computers can take the experience a step further by interacting with the crane more closely to the way real-world crane operators do.

So are all crane operators using this game for training? Well if they aren't using any simulation-based training, they certainly should be using a product like this within their training curriculum before trying their hand at operating expensive equipment. The main problem with trying to use an off-the-shelf product like this for training is that it features a generic crane which may have different functionality and/or controls than the real-world crane does. To properly conduct simulation-based training for heavy machinery, a custom 3D simulator should be developed in order to mirror the real-world operations more closely. The Global Ground Support Deicing Simulator developed by ForgeFX is an excellent example of taking a serious game like Kran Simulator a step further, providing specific models of deicers within the virtual environment allows trainees to take skills learned in the simulated world to the real world where they are needed.

Download the free 130Mb demo and check it out for yourself.

Technology Enables Ground Support Equipment Training

2009-05-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

Airside International article: Technology Enables GSE Training.

This article discusses the 3D training simulator ForgeFX developed for Global Ground Support. Airside International is a quarterly magazine aimed at airport authorities, airlines, equipment providers, and infrastructure developers. The article includes an interview with Jeffrey Walsh, Vice President of Sales and Service for Global Ground Support, Greg Meyers, President for ForgeFX, and Adam Kane, Technical Director for ForgeFX.

Global Ground Support offers the market the 3D simulation software developed by ForgeFX as part of a package with their equipment. The first simulator was delivered in December 2007 to JetBlue. The deicing simulation has been a huge success and has generated an incredible amount of interest. Global has a simulator with a customer who does not even have any of their trucks, but because the controls are very similar between competitors’ vehicles and their vehicles, they get a lot of the benefit from the 3D simulator.

It is possible to train a ground support operator to use a deicer correctly through simulation-based training in just 30 minutes. In the past, companies would take their new employees, put them through 8, 12, or 16 hours of classroom deicing training, then they would put them in a truck for one, two, or four hours depending upon the customer to teach them how to use the truck. Unfortunately, most of this training took place in August, September, or October. Those new employees might not actually spray an aircraft for several months, they then get into a very complicated piece of equipment in which to perform difficult tasks in a timely fashion. The only piece of equipment on the ramp that is more complicated to operate than a deicer is an aircraft, this clearly demonstrates the need for high quality training.

The training simulation goes beyond just teaching an employee how the controls of the truck work. It gets into the whys of the actual deicing process. It trains not only on truck operation but also on the processes and procedures involved in deicing an aircraft correctly, safely, and cost effectively.

Jeffrey Walsh, Vice President of Sales and Service for Global Ground Support, was able to take his 20 years of airline, airport, deicing, and flying experience; couple it with ForgeFX's simulation development expertise, to create a new deicing training program that brought deicing and simulators to the next level. Global Ground Support is striving to make this simulation equipment increasingly real every day. The next update to the simulator will show the fluid flowing off the wings. It will also have wind speed and wind direction and all sorts of other components that make it even more real. Simulations can never be too real.

Full article: Technology Enables GSE Training
Project case study: Interactive 3D deicing training simulator.

3D Fork Lift Training Simulator

2009-04-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

3D game-based training simulator enhances forklift training. Developed by Etcetera Edutainment, a company that specializes in applying video game techniques and technologies to education and training situations.

Etcetera in partnership with the National Safety Council (NSC) has released a 3D game-based training simulation program to improve the effectiveness of forklift training. Forklifts are one of the most commonly found types of mobile equipment in industry today, and if not operated properly, they can be one of the most dangerous. Leveraging leading-edge video game technology, this training simulation delivers instruction in OSHA-compliant forklift safety standards and best practices by putting trainees through the paces by completing tasks that they would commonly find in a real work environment.

According to the company, the program delivers an immersive safety training experience suitable for new or experience forklift operators. The simulation helps companies achieve safety objectives and rely less on on-site training as the sole means of applying what has been learned. The lift truck allows trainees to drive in a virtual warehouse environment that is guided by a series of task-based practice lessons focusing on key forklift safety concepts. After completing practice lessons, the driver goes on to complete a final exam where their safety performance is tracked and recorded.

This training simulation is a cost effective and risk-free complement to traditional safety training material. The simulation allows operators to make mistakes without risking the health of employees or damaging property by testing critical operating techniques before driving a real-world forklift.

Firefighting vehicle manufacturer to develop interactive 3D training simulator.

2009-03-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

Rosenbauer International will produce a training simulation for their high reach extendable turret-equipped fire trucks. High reach extendable turrets are used primarily in fighting airport and industrial fires. The turret is mounted on a hydraulic boom arm on the top of a fire truck, and is controlled via a joystick. The arm is able to penetrate aircraft fuselage and spray dousing agents onto fires within the plane's interior.

The training simulation will allow fire fighters to train in high reach extendable turret related scenarios, training that would not otherwise be possible to recreate in the real world, given the risk associated with fires, the cost of materials involved, and the wear-and-tear on equipment.

Following their mission to deliver innovative, high-value solutions to emergency responders, Rosenbauer's simulator will offer essential and valuable training for the fire fighters in the so-called 'hot seat,' who have to operate the high reach extendable turrets under stressful conditions where lives are at stake.

This fire fighting simulator, like our deicing training simulator, is a great example of interactive 3D simulations being used for training for mission critical situations. Allowing companies to conduct training that is safe, effective, cost efficient, and environmentally sound is a must in today's world - and interactive 3D simulations are a great way to provide that training.

Global Ground Support and ForgeFX Partner to Develop an Interactive 3D Deicing Training Simulator

2009-02-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

San Francisco, CA, United States, 02/09/2009 - ForgeFX, a leading interactive 3D simulation and serious game developer, has produced and deployed an aircraft deicing training simulator for Global Ground Support's clients. The simulator allows airport ground support equipment operators to train for the deicing process with more flexibility and a lower cost than traditional training.

Ice, snow, freezing rain, and other contaminants can build up on an aircraft making it dangerous to fly. Deicing is a complex, multi-step process that if done properly returns the aircraft to a clean safe state.

Proper deicing is mission critical, requires a high level of dexterity and spatial relations ability, an intimate knowledge of the aircraft, and the impact of different weather conditions. The challenge is that training is costly, requires the availability of expensive equipment, and must be comprehensive, covering a wide variety of factors including plane type, weather conditions, time of day, wind speed, contamination type, etc.

Global Ground Support’s simulator, based on their model 2200TEAP, addresses these issues. The simulation allows the user to train across a variety of factors. The training simulation offers the ability for users to practice and take a performance test while deicing a virtual aircraft. The simulation tracks the performance of users and records their scores for review by the instructor. The simulation provides both an overall score, as well as a detailed score breakdown, for each simulation session. This scoring system encourages healthy competition among users while learning the correct procedures.

The operator sits in a virtual cab which is attached to a boom arm, which is attached to a truck. The operator of the simulation has full control over the 2200TEAP’s boom arm, cab rotation, truck location, nozzle settings, fluid selection, cab lights, type of plane, time of day, and weather conditions. This gives airlines the ability to train their operators without risking damage to the real-world equipment. Also, virtual training doesn’t use up consumables such as fuel and expensive fluids. Deicing operators must be careful when deicing an aircraft, since a collision between deicing equipment and a plane is costly. A collision requires planes to be grounded and flight delays - a costly mistake in reality becomes a valuable lesson when simulated.

Case Study: Interactive 3D Deicing Training Simulator

ForgeFX’s solid track record in the development of effective simulation products was key to Global Ground Support‘s selection of the ForgeFX team. Representing industry leaders such as Adobe, Pearson Education, Farmers Insurance, Heifer International, and Pfizer, ForgeFX consistently delivers interactive 3D simulations that help achieve their client’s project goals while optimizing their bottom lines.

Minnesota Zoo's WolfQuest

2008-02-29T21:25:00.000-08:00

The Minnesota Zoo and eduweb are partnering to develop WolfQuest, an innovative new project that brings the immersive, compelling drama and action of video games to informal science learning while creating a model for nationwide distribution. Designed for players age nine to adult, WolfQuest will teach wolf behavior and ecology through its exciting gameplay and intense social interactions.

Check it out: WolfQuest.org

Hilton Hotels Unveils Training Simulation

2008-02-29T21:13:00.000-08:00

The simulation uses a branching dialogue system so team members will select their level of guest interaction from a list to best determine which response best suits each guest's demeanor and attitude while ensuring they are also completing their specific hotel duties (i.e., answering the telephone, checking guests in and out and interacting with guests in lobby) as efficiently as possible. Because guests already have their own set of values with varying degrees of anger and patience levels and flexibility, scoring will be based on the guest's happiness, how quickly, politely and correctly the team member performs.

Read more: Hilton Garden Inn® Unveils Ultimate Team Play

Physics Middleware from Havok now Free

2008-02-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

For non-commercial use, Havok has released its award-winning physics engine for free. Approved partners may use the engine in commercial projects and all project teams have the option to license the engine for a fee.

The exciting thing about this announcement is that folks can now get their hands on the Havok physics system and fully evaluate it before putting any cash on the table.

ForgeFX has used the bundled version of Havok that comes within Adobe's Director for years and looks forward to using Havok in future downloadable PC C# and XNA-based projects.

Read more at Havok's press release.

Serious Games Ning Portal

2007-11-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

Ning.com offers a kind of social-network-in-a-box product. I'm sure the last thing you're looking for is yet another social network, but with that said, ning sites do have basically full read-only functionality, even if you don't want to sign-up.

Related to serious games, there's now seriousgames.ning.com, which looks like a pretty solid source for serious games news and community interaction. There's the obligatory list of links to resources, live chat, a forum, an rss feed, audio clips, members list and profiles, book recommendations, and relevant podcasts.

Check it out at: seriousgames.ning.com

Learning by Doing

2007-11-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

If you haven't checked it out yet, Clark Aldrich's book "Learning by Doing" is considered a seminal work in the area of serious games and e-learning.

Get it at Amazon: www.amazon.com/learning-by-doing/

Serious Games Summit, Feb 18-19, San Francisco

2007-11-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

The ForgeFX crew will be at the Serious Games Summit in San Francisco on February 18th & 19th. Contact gmeyers@forgefx.com if you're also attending and would like to setup an appointment to meet.

About the Serious Games Summit
The Serious Games Summit GDC spotlights the rapidly growing serious games industry that features the use of interactive games technology within non-entertainment sectors. The summit provides a forum for game developers and industry professionals to examine the future course of serious games development in areas such as education, government, health, military, science, corporate training, first responders, and social change.

Read more at: www.gdconf.com/conference/sgs.htm

MTV's Darfur Is Dying Expands With New Localizations

2007-11-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

MTV's college network mtvU has announced that it will be expanding its USC developed serious/political awareness game Darfur Is Dying with new translations into Chinese, Arabic and Spanish. MTV says that the game, playable via its official website has been played 2.5 million times by more than 1.2 million people.

Read more at: http://www.darfurisdying.com/

Point-Of-Response Simulator Serves Emergency Response Teams

2007-11-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

The University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, CADE and the Chicago Department of Public Health have developed a free game designed to educate organizations in a simulation of emergency point-of-dispensing (POD).

Read more at: http://www.thepodgame.com/

Advanced Learning Technologies Summit

2007-11-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

The first annual Advanced Learning Technologies Summit (ALT Summit) aims to explore how serious games, virtual worlds, social networks and technologies such as robotics and haptics can be leveraged to inspire, educate and train the “next-gen” workforce. It has announced its featured speakers for the inaugural conference.

Read more at: http://altsummit.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=PUB.1.97

Stunt Bike Island

2007-03-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

After returning from this year's GDC we're working hard to promote our existing web-game, Stunt Bike Island, and also working on new games. It can be tough to bang out internal projects when there is always client work to do, but it's very rewarding all the same. We're currently designing a follow-up to Stunt Bike Island which will be set in an icy environment and is tentatively titled Stunt Bike Arctic.

Welcome

2006-04-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

ForgeFX is an interactive 3D simulation, serious game, and training simulation development company . We provide software development services for clients looking to create both online and offline interactive content. Our clients compete in the education, training, and entertainment industries.

It's no secret that we learn best by doing, and real-life experience is the best way to learn. When it comes to making critical decisions, the key to success is comprehensive training and feedback. In the real world, this can be expensive, impractical, and depending on the tasks even hazardous.

ForgeFX creates realistic interactive simulations that give users the ability to learn effectively while reducing physical and financial risks. We provide custom-developed interactive simulations to our clients. Whether you are trying to educate, train, inform, or entertain, interactive 3D simulations fully engage your target audience.

There are also other important business benefits that interactive 3D simulations bring to the table. A subtle, but important, benefit is that of differentiation. The internet has given people more choice than ever, making it critical that you stand out from your competitors.

With the increasingly mainstream adoption of near-cinematic quality 3D entertainment experiences, you need to be able to compete for your audiences' attention. Interactive 3D simulations, in addition to their instructional effectiveness, deliver a powerful “wow” factor that should not be underestimated. The vast internet audience coupled with the rapid adoption of 3D technologies makes interactive simulations easier to deploy than ever before.

This blog will contain posts relevant to the interactive 3D simulation industry.