This was one of the questions we sought to answer together with Bergen Fire Department in an innovation project. Extended Reality or “XR” is an umbrella term that encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies. Our hypothesis is that virtual training can be beneficial for training decision-making, dangerous procedures, or when training is impractical. Together with Bergen Fire Department, we wanted to look closer into training on tunnel fires. XR allows them to do this training without exposing themselves to dangerous environments and without having to stop traffic while training. From a technological point of view, we also wanted to see how or if haptic technology could be used to increase the effectiveness of virtual training.
Preparation for Training
The activity is intended to result in a sub-deliverable that allows the pilot customer to conduct training preparations and practice the execution of procedures before a situation is mapped out and the crew is ready to engage. Users can practice collaboration during preparations while assigning specific roles and concrete tasks.
Maximizing Training Outcome
In this activity, a scenario-building system was developed, and the results of the previous activities will be combined into one so that users only need to interact with one platform to complete total training.
And the conclusions?
We firmly believe that XR, encompassing cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, holds significant potential and should be an integral part of modern firefighter training programs. This innovative project has clearly demonstrated that training in XR can be not only relevant but also highly engaging and immensely useful, offering new avenues for skill development and preparedness. We are committed to continuing our efforts and focusing our development on making Fynd CORE the go-to platform for training on volatile and potentially hazardous situations in dangerous environments. While this particular project has reached its conclusion, our journey does not end here. We are honored to have been selected by FIRE RES, which is part of the European Union's prestigious H2020 research and innovation program. This selection allows us to further our work on XR training, specifically targeting Extreme Wildfire Events, where the need for advanced and effective training solutions is more critical than ever.
