Posted on

Lifelong learners: The future of the workforce

The processes, the values, the training focus, everything has been affected by the Covid pandemic. Recruiting processes have been no exception, especially since Ms Teams interviews are not easier not equally anthropocentric. Additionally, employers all around the world –and HR teams- focus on different skills, such as adaptability to the digital era, willingness to learn, resilience and interpersonal competencies.
If you ask someone “How do you learn” and the answer is “I only learn what is needed” probably this candidate is not ideal for a modern workspace. What we all need now is lifelong learners, individuals that keep reading, listening, asking, practising, not because they must, but because they want to. Through this process, an ecosystem is formed where managers, employees and all stakeholders as evolving, inventing new ways to be creative and productive.
An interesting “game” promoting the lifelong learning culture could be a quick answer to a daily question like “What did you learn today”? just before they turn off their computers. Or anything that would constantly highlight the priority level of training within the organization. From this token, new methods, like VR training, and/ or corporate wellness initiatives cultivate this value system and materialize the idea of innovation and evolution. Additionally, by incorporating stress-relieving practices- like Solas VR short meditation session, managers can prepare the mind to absorb new information and to put stress aside, for more focused and effective training sessions.
What is evident from scientific and empirical studies is how lifelong learners become a source of competitive advantage for organizations. Yet, the managers and team leaders are those who have to “practice what they preach” via their personal choices and forward thinking decisions.

Posted on

How virtual reality can help to recruit and train staff

Source: BBC.com

By Bernd Debusmann Jr

For many who leave the military, entering the civilian workforce can be a shock, with an office culture devoid of the routine and chain-of-command that shapes a life in uniform.

“There’s a loss of structure, and a loss of all those things that held daily activities together,” recalls Tristan Carson, a US Marine veteran. “In the military, your days are dictated for you. You know what you’re going to be doing.”

To make matters worse, the culture shock that often comes with this transition from military to civilian life is compounded by a communication problem.

For instance, many employers outside of the military cannot comprehend the myriad of acronyms soldiers may initially struggle to stop using in their daily work. Some veterans may also struggle to explain how their experience can be applied in a non-military environment.

One potential solution comes in an unlikely form: virtual reality (VR).

For most people VR is nothing more than a fun gimmick to enhance the experience of playing video games at home however the technology is now starting to be used in some exciting new ways.

In Mr Carson’s case, he took part in a pilot scheme testing a programme called Artificial Intelligence Designed for Employment (AIDE). It was devised by Onward to Opportunity, a free career training programme created by the University of Syracuse for the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF).

Using an Oculus Rift headset, which will soon be distributed at 19 military bases throughout the US, the initiative briefs soldiers on their transition to regular life as well as on how to conduct a virtual interview.

The technology includes a “jargon analyser” and examines its users’ speech patterns to detect things like nervousness and hesitation.

“It will tell you, for example, how much jargon and military terminology you used. [Participants] get a full transcript and feedback,” says Bryan Radliff, who spent 31 years with the US army and now manages the CyberVets programme, which trains veterans in IT skills.

“They need to know that they are explaining things adequately to a hiring manager so as not to create confusion,” he adds. “Then programme coordinators and transition specialists can sit with the individuals to talk about their experience, or work on their interviewing skills.”

This programme is just one of a number of initiatives that are using virtual reality to recruit or train workers on everything from job interviews to complex mechanical processes, and even wellness initiatives.

These programmes, in turn, form a growing part of the global virtual reality market, which Fortune Business Insights estimates will grow to $57.55bn (£40.19bn) by 2027, up from just $3.1bn (£2.24bn) in 2019.

Tom Symonds, the chief executive of online training platform Immerse, says the use of VR has a number of benefits for companies, such as giving them the ability to conduct training sessions or complicated assessments with employees around the globe, without the need to fly out personnel to do in-person sessions.

VR is also often better at maintaining the interest and focus of employees, Mr Symonds adds.

“Generally speaking, the accepted way of developing talent within an organisation has been some kind of classroom training-based experience and some kind of PowerPoint presentation,” he explains. “I think there is a growing awareness that this old blend can be enhanced by new technology.”

As an example, Mr Symonds points to multinational oil and gas company Shell, which uses VR to train and assess its widely-dispersed workforce, some of whom are located in remote offshore facilities.

“We see virtual reality as another instructional method that provides teams with a safe place to practise skills, and more importantly, fail within a safe and controlled environment,” says Brent Kedzierski, head of learning strategy and innovation at Shell.

“When learners are not in the classroom, they can continue to perform VR simulations to practise and reinforce intellectual and behavioural skills,” Mr Kedzierski adds. He says the “scenario-based training simulation exercises” are designed to be repeated at increasing levels of complexity, without the support of an instructor.

While the use of VR in recruitment and training pre-dates 2020, Mr Kedzierski said that the benefits were starkly highlighted during pandemic-induced travel restrictions.

Being able to familiarise new joiners with the company, anytime and anywhere has been a big advantage. “We’re able to give learners a physical orientation to our assets when they don’t have the luxury of being in the actual control room, mess hall or sleeping quarters.”

However, industry insiders warn that the VR technology still has limitations.

Sophie Thompson, the co-founder and chief operating officer of VirtualSpeech – a UK-based VR education platform which focuses on skills such as interview technique, sales and public speaking – says that while the firm’s revenues grew 300% in 2019 and 2020, “user habits simply aren’t there yet”.

“It’s quite a jump from looking at a computer or phone and observing the digital world, to then becoming an active participant right in the middle of it,” Ms Thompson says.

“People aren’t used to putting a headset on their face and being completely immersed and teleported to another location or experience, and some people feel vulnerable doing that,” she adds. “This is already starting to change as the headsets become more sophisticated.”

Kevin Cornish, the chief executive of Moth + Flame, a VR company that has partnered with the US Air Force to provide training aimed at combating suicide and sexual assaults, said that “once people adopt this training, it’s tough to go back to computer-based training”.

“This is just so immersive and engaging that companies will definitely be adding this to their overall training solutions,” he says.

Mr Cornish adds that the fact that younger employees in particular are quick to pick up headsets, and feel comfortable, bodes well for the future of VR in the workplace.

“As these generations move into positions of management and leadership that will likely accelerate the adoption of the technology, but we are seeing a lot of enthusiasm for the product with Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers,” he says.

Immerse’s Tom Symonds, for his part, says that much of the future growth of VR will be a result of companies turning to the technology to help them manage the wellness and mental health of their employees.

Already, Immerse has partnered with meditation app Solas VR to create a library of VR meditations aimed at boosting mental wellbeing and brain productivity. The partnership include a selection of 360-degree videos featuring idyllic Irish nature scenes to relax in, as well as breathing exercises and other features.

“The technology has the ability to transport you to a different place, take you out of your daily work stress, and put you in an environment that allows you to be calm,” he says. “That’s a brilliant use of the technology.”

“Its great quality is the ability to focus you on something 100%,” Mr Symonds adds. “Once you are in the headset, you are focused.”

Posted on

Solas VR teams up with PixoVR- this is how we announced it

Extended Reality (XR) Solutions Provider and Content Partners Look to Meet Exploding Global Demand for XR 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Enterprise extended reality (XR) solutions provider, PIXO, which launched its groundbreaking XR content distribution and analytics platform, PIXO Apex, in late summer 2020 has announced a major expansion of its content library. Among the array of new offerings are XR modules that go beyond the virtual reality (VR) training category the company has helped define since 2016. This week, PIXO will add new mindfulness and wellness experiences developed by its Dublin, Ireland-based content partners at Solas VR — The Meditation Space, The Breathing Space, and The Wisdom Space, each ‘space’ containing a range of experiences to help users reconnect, refresh, and recenter themselves. 

Also available now in the PIXO Content Collection are new VR training titles relevant to multiple industries, including Lockout/Tagout, Ladder Safety, Fire Prevention (Construction Site), Hazard Recognition (Construction Site), Housekeeping (Construction Site), COVID-19 PPE Usage & Handwashing, Pole Top Rescue, First Aid, CPR/AED (Adult & Infant), Fire Extinguisher Training, and Low Voltage Rescue. CEO Sean Hurwitz says new content is critical to PIXO’s success.


“The demand for new and relevant enterprise XR content is profound,” Hurwitz said of the industry’s rapid growth, which PIXO is experiencing firsthand. According to a recent study by PwC, the XR industry is expected to contribute an eye-opening $1.5 trillion to global GDP by 2030. But that growth in demand creates supply side issues, Hurwitz added. “Our customers are in constant need of new modules, for training and otherwise. As a business, we have to meet that demand or we’ll leave clients wanting. That’s why having partners like Solas VR is critical.”

To satisfy the exploding demand for XR content, Hurwitz said, PIXO has leveraged a different kind of business model. Enabled by his company’s content-agnostic platform, which can distribute virtual, augmented, or mixed reality content from virtually any source, PIXO seeks collaboration rather than competition with other XR content creators. While PIXO still develops premium XR content itself, the company has increasingly utilized a growing network of third party XR developers — PIXO Content Partners — to curate relevant, high quality XR titles which contributors can monetize on the PIXO Apex platform through revenue-sharing agreements.

“The logistical challenges of COVID dumped jet fuel onto a fire. Remote work, training, and collaboration isn’t a ‘want’ anymore, but a ‘need’ for enterprises, so offering engaging new content is essential,” Hurwitz said. “Companies that were competitors two years ago are our partners today. By offering their content on our platform, they gain access to new audiences and revenue streams while we give our clients what they need. It’s a win-win.”

For its part, Solas VR is also looking for a ‘win-win’ by offering the PIXO audience a different kind of XR experience: immersive 360-degree nature videos. The range of offerings are ideal for what the company calls “micro-breaks”, which provide everyone from new hires to C-suite executives a welcome respite from the daily grind. These micro-breaks allow users to reset and refocus at any time during the day, improving performance in the short term and building resilience and mental health in the long term. They also provide practical breathing techniques and a range of guided meditations to help employers and employees navigate an increasingly complex world.

“Our focus is mindfulness and wellness; putting users in a better state of mind,” said Solas VR CEO Stephen Pitcher. “This partnership isn’t just about training, but helping to create healthier employees and companies overall. XR allows people to feel more connected — not just with this technology, but with nature and themselves.”