From: Ray Pettit <pettit@CONNECTI.COM>
Subject: HUMAN-FACTORS: A real, customer conceived VR app
Date:         Thu, 3 Oct 1996 16:53:17 -0500
Message-ID:  <1.5.4.32.19961003215317.0068b2b0@connecti.com>


This message concerns the ongoing discussion of the usefulness of
virtual reality technology to solve real world problems.  Most of the
comments have supported the idea that VR is a solution looking for a
problem, or perhaps that we don't know what to do with immersion.  I
think Linda has done an excellent job in giving examples of "real"
applications.  I want to offer another example, along with an
important lesson I've learned.  The project that I'm currently working
on is a good example of a project that is, as Bob said, "conceived
with an understanding of customer needs first and foremost."

The fire service industry is always looking for better ways to train
firefighters.  With the high cost ($1 million +) and low flexibility
of live fire burn room simulators and increasingly tougher EPA
regulations, the US Air Force turned to the VR industry in hopes of
improving their training options.  They wanted to help bridge the gap
between multimedia training and the expensive, and dangerous,
alternative.  We saw this as an excellent application of immersive
technologies and proposed a system that would meet their needs.

I'll share one of the most important lessons we've learned about
applying VR to training.  The trainer, or subject matter expert, will
become defensive and oppositional if he/she thinks you are trying to
replace a real life experience.  In our case the meaning is this : we
are not trying to replace live fire training, we are trying to offer
an additional tool with which to train.  Being the wielders of such
high-tech gadgetry as HMD's, 3D audio, data gloves, synthetic odor
generators, heat and wind generators, etc. we can often intimidate
those who are perfectly comfortable with more traditional
technological devices.  Perhaps our lofty claims have been an
impedence to the advancement of VR technology.

We can't infiltrate the world with VR technology tomorrow, but there
definitely are customer driven VR applications that solve real world
problems.


Regards,
Ray Pettit
Senior Scientist
5, Inc. (Full Immersion Virtual Environments)
pettit@connecti.com