JLG Reaching Out in Reality and Virtual Reality

Come on out to the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality Expo (SSVR) in San Jose, CA next week to see the next-generation JLG Equipment Training Simulator that ForgeFX Simulations is developing for JLG, including full Oculus Rift virtual-reality head-mounted-display support.

JLG is a leading manufacturer of lift equipment for uses in all industries, as well as a leader in delivering innovative training solutions to their customers. ForgeFX is proud to partner with JLG to develop VR-based training simulators for them. The JLG equipment simulator will be demonstrated at SVVR this year inside the ForgeFX Simulations booth so be sure to stop by and check it out.


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Virtual Reality Has Arrived

I think it is finally safe to say that Virtual Reality (VR) has arrived for the consumer, a statement we've been hoping to say for decades, and one we've been skeptical to say even as all signs were pointing to it. With the recent release of affordable consumer-ready VR devices by a number of manufacturers, and tools to produce VR applications readily accessible, the creation and deployment of high quality VR apps is finally a reality. These VR apps can now easily be deployed and networked, delivering high-quality interactive multi-user VR solutions to the public— the dream ever since we first read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.

ForgeFX Simulations at the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality (SVVR) Conference and Expo

ForgeFX Simulations is excited to be participating at SVVR this year, the largest professional event for the Virtual Reality industry, and this year’s show should be the most exciting one yet with the recent release of the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive and Valve's SteamVR. We are looking forward to demonstrating an array of the VR applications we've been working on, especially the next generation, Oculus Rift-enabled, aircraft deicing simulator we're currently building for Global Ground Support.

Global Ground Support's Virtual Reality Aircraft Deicing Training Simulator

Global Ground Support is a leading manufacturer of military, airline and airport ground support equipment. Global Ground Support is committed to the delivery of top quality products and services to its customers and will be releasing the next-generation VR-enabled simulator in Q1 of 2017. For VR-enabled aircraft deicing training simulator pre-order inquiries, please contact Global Ground Support.

Come to the VR Expo at the San Jose, CA Convention Center, April 27 - 29, to see ForgeFX and more than 200 other exhibitors demonstrate the VR solutions we've been working on. Virtual Reality has finally hit the mainstream and we're rapidly deploying VR-based training simulators for many of our clients. Stop by and talk with us in San Jose, or for VR development inquiries, please contact ForgeFX.

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Joy Global Simulators Win First Place at Sasol Techno X

Sasol Techno X is science, math and technology exposition held every year in Secunda, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Techno X is:

"an exhibition that focuses on displays, workshops, tours, talks and hands-on activities aimed at enthusing learners, students and the general public about the endless possibilities of science and technology".

The exposition aims to:

"expose, at a practical level, the many facets of technology and encourage learners to explore the wide range of exciting disciplines and career choices that science, maths and technology offer".

Techno X is sponsored by Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL), an international energy and chemicals company that develops and commercializes technologies, and builds and operates facilities that produce liquid fuels and chemicals.

This year's winner in the business category was Joy Global, demonstrating their ProMiner Training Simulator, a suite of 3D equipment training simulators developed by ForgeFX Simulators. The simulator allows operators to master the equipment controls and become familiar with the spatial challenges posed by the mining environment – before they ever step foot on a mine site.

To help explain their business, Joy Global brought a number of training simulators with them to Techno X. The training simulators are a great option when the cost of transporting the real-world equipment is prohibitively high, or the risks to new operators makes hands-on use too risky.

 

 

The simulator gives both new and veteran operators the ability to safely train for the operation of multiple pieces of equipment, removing the risk of costly mistakes and keeping real-world machinery in production.

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JLG Industries Aerial Work Platform Training Simulators by ForgeFX

ForgeFX is proud to be a simulator development partner of JLG Industries, Inc., the world's leading designer and manufacturer of aerial work platforms, telehandlers and other access equipment. The huge success JLG has achieved presents them with a challenge, how to provide training for such a large number of new operators. An interactive training simulator, which is widely deployable, is precisely what JLG needed in order to meet this challenge.

JLG Industries Aerial Work Platform Training Simulators

JLG Industries Aerial Work Platform Training Simulators by ForgeFX

Certain equipment and processes are the best candidates for interactive 3D simulation-based training. The first criteria is high-value machinery. Simulation-based training makes the most sense when the relative cost to develop the simulation is low in comparison to the cost of the equipment itself. The next criteria relates to spatial relations. 3D interactive simulations make the most sense for equipment which operates in the context of its surrounding environment, and are themselves complex in their layout and difficult to represent with flat paper-based training materials. JLG's aerial work platforms meets all of these criteria, allowing simulation-based training to yield a large return on investment.

JLG Adds Custom Simulator to its Training Tools
JLG Industries has added a lift and access equipment simulator to its arsenal of teaching tools at its recently expanded training center in McConnellsburg, PA. The simulator employs advanced gamification learning to familiarize operators with the controls and operation of the JLG 800S telescopic boom lift. The equipment simulator virtually replicates JLG’s proving grounds at its customer training center, a four-acre tract of land that includes obstacle courses designed to train participants in the operation of JLG equipment.

JLG Simulator Starts Training at the Safest Height
At their facility in McConnellsburg, PA, JLG has created a testing and training facility that duplicates many aspects of a typical real-world job site. To train on site with experts at the proving grounds is an invaluable experience. However, the real-world proving grounds can’t handle the volume, nor can everyone handle the expense of on-site travel and training. In the JLG Equipment Simulator, ForgeFX has created a true-to-life replica of the Proving Grounds, allowing an unlimited number of students to gain much of what is gained in the real-world experience.

Training for boom lift operation presented controls familiarization and spatial awareness challenges. ForgeFX met these challenges for JLG by developing the JLG Equipment Training Simulator allowing operators to learn and practice both safety and productivity in a virtual environment.

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Thanks for visting ForgeFX Simulations at DevLearn 2014

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the ForgeFX Simulations booth at the DevLearn Conference last week in Las Vegas. It was a blast getting to meet so many smart and talented people in such a fun and exciting place, and we were honored to demonstrate our collection of simulation-based training solutions to attendees and fellow exhibitors. If you didn't get a chance to try out one of our simulators during the expo, or if you have any questions for us, please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll set up a time to speak with you.

Adam Kane and Greg Meyers from ForgeFX Simulations

This year we had something for everyone, from full-blown platform training simulators with real-world controllers, to simulations running on a tablet or phone, to standard laptop-based job training simulations available for world-wide distribution.

DevLearn attendee operating a rope shovel training simulator developed by ForgeFX. 

#DevLearn attendees who came by our booth got to try out a number of the different training simulation products that ForgeFX has developed over the years. Most people naturally flock to our platform-based training simulators, which are always an expo floor favorite, but eventually everyone remarks about the virtual pigs running around and how cute they are. This sentiment quickly changes when virtual necropsies start happening and pigs get slated to be euthanized, but we always love showing off our simulators and hearing reactions and comments from the audience.

DemoFest 

DemoFest is DevLearn's exposition and competition of the latest and greatest eLearning courses, case studies, and showcases—a people’s choice competition, sponsored by Weejee Learning. ForgeFX was proud to be an exhibitor at #DemoFest this year, with our entry in the Best Game-Based Solution category, HazOps—an industrial safety training simulation that we developed for the California State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF), the largest provider of worker's compensation insurance policies in the state.

ForgeFX Simulations's HazOps, Industrial Safety Training Simulation at DevLearn 2014 DemoFest.

Through fun, interactive, immersive simulation-based learning SCIF hopes to engage users in safety training content in a way traditional training material can't. The longer a policy holder spends learning how to identify, avoid, and address hazardous conditions the lower the chances are they'll have an accident, and thus file a claim.

ForgeFX is a 3D job-training simulation and eLearning development company. Using high-fidelity 3D graphics, we provide custom application development services for clients who are looking for interactive job-training simulations. Our simulation technology and production expertise are applicable to many different industries. We love to employ our talent and creativity on projects in new and exciting areas.

Thanks again and we'll see everyone next year at DevLearn 2015.

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ForgeFX Simulations at DevLearn — Exploring the New Learning Universe

DevLearn, one of the most interesting and cutting-edge training and learning events in the US, starts on October 29th at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. One of the premier eLearning conferences and expositions, ForgeFX will be there at booth 611 demonstrating our line of training simulations. If you are a training or learning professional who regularly participates in your organization's use of technology-based tools and strategies, then you should definitely consider attending DevLearn. And if you're attending DevLearn this year please come visit us and try out one of our job-training simulations.


ForgeFX Simulations — DevLearn 2014 — Booth 611

DevLearn Keynote Speakers

This year's opening keynote speaker is Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium and host of the television show Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. His speech will focus on STEM education—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and he will discuss why STEM is critical in regards to the education of young people and how it impacts the workplace. As a preview, you can listen to an interview with Dr. Tyson by David Kelly, program director of the eLearning Guild.


DemoFest 2014

Perhaps one of the most entertaining events at DevLearn every year is DemoFest. DemoFest is a billed as the premier showcase of eLearning project demonstrations. While the entire conference and exposition is dedicated to the subject, DemoFest is a great place to come and really get your hands on dozens of new products. This year's DemoFest will host more than 80 exhibitors with interactive products for attendees to play with, including ForgeFX's HazOps, a 3D industrial job-trainer that we developed for California State Compensation Insurance Fund.

ForgeFX Simulations

This year we're bringing some of our most popular simulators to DevLearn for everyone on the expo floor to try out.

• Go head-to-head against a friend while you operate an aircraft deicing training simulator during a virtual snowstorm.
• Try your hand at a mining shovel operator training simulator and to see how quickly and safely you can move materials.
• Play HazOps, an industrial safety training game that puts your knowledge of hazards and the necessary safety precautions used to avoid them to the test.

ForgeFX Simulations — HazOps — Industrial Safety Training Simulation

ForgeFX develops 3D job-training simulations across a wide array of industries, everything from mining, to construction, to air transportation. We provide custom application development services for clients in any industry who are looking for interactive job-training simulations. Come try out some of our products, ask us about building an immersive learning environment for you, and we'll see you at DevLearn!


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Military Simulation and Virtual Training Market Forecasts, 2014-2024

If you're looking for forecasts and analysis of where the simulation and virtual training markets are predicted to go over the course of the next ten years, a good place to start is with the military. The defense industry invests considerable resources into simulation-based training and often influences other industries and their use of training simulators.

Two recently published reports provide a wealth of information on military simulators and virtual training, detailing the current size of the industry, growth expectations and emerging opportunities.

The Global Military Simulation and Virtual Training Systems Market 2014–2024, published by Strategic Defense Intelligence, explains how global military cost-cutting initiatives have resulted in reduced training budgets, leading to a focus on less expensive virtual training solutions.

As militaries around the world replace obsolete weaponry with new technology the demand for training will increase, while the costs for consumables like ammunition and fuel will continue to increase. The report highlights that the US military saved more than $20 million on ammunition in 2010 using virtual combat training simulators.

The report lists that the US Air Force spends approximately $2.9 million to train a jet fighter pilot. In an effort to reduce costs, the helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle operator training simulator segments are expected to be two of the leading market drivers.

Military Simulation, Modeling and Virtual Training Market 2014-2024, by Visiongain, estimates that the global amount spent in the Military Simulation, Modeling and Virtual Training markets to be $8.12 billion. The report seeks to do the following:

"Analyses the market at the global level, by two primary submarkets which are broken down into a total of 12 secondary submarkets. The 15 leading national markets plus rest of the world are also analyzed, each broken down by the two primary submarkets."

One of the key simulation-based requirements pointed out in the reports is in regards to fidelity. The need for either high-fidelity (nearly identical look and feel) or duplicate fidelity (actual look and feel) human-machine interface controls are a necessity in order for trainees to get the most from simulation-based training.

While these reports are helpful and provide valuable insight, there's really only one way to find out everything there is to know about the military simulation market, attend the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, otherwise known as I/ITSEC.

Dedicated to the promotion of cooperation among the Armed Services, Industry, Academia, and various Government agencies that are in pursuit of improved training and education programs, identification of common training issues, and development of multiservice programs.

If you're attending I/ITSEC this year please be sure to stop by and visit ForgeFX at booth number 2088 where we'll have a number of our training simulators available for the attendees to climb into and get some hands-on virtual training.

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