Digital Twins & VR: The Sci-Fi Tech Revolutionizing Real-World Training
In recent years, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have evolved so much that they have grown from the fringes of the entertainment industry to being a dominant force. Now, this technology is growing even more, and new applications are being found that are changing the business landscape. One such application that is particularly promising is the digital twin, a virtual replication of a real-life machine.
These digital twins exist in the metaverse — a virtual world that users can access through VR or AR. Using VR and AR, users can see and interact with digital twins in ways that allow them to better understand not only their counterparts’ components but also their functions. This enables use cases like real-time monitoring if the real-life machine is hooked up to sensors, with information fed to the digital twin.
However, this is just scratching the surface of the business applications of digital twins. “Many businesses have begun using VR and AR — specifically digital twins — as part of their training and onboarding process,” explains Joseph Callahan, the CEO of leading spatial computing technology firm Ciright, VR platform Sansar, and World Cafe Live. “This technology creates a low-stress environment where new employees can learn and explore without fear of injuring themselves or others or damaging equipment, but without sacrificing the hands-on experience of the training process.”
How digital twins are used in training
Virtual reality-based training allows consumers to interact with the digital twins of the real-world machines they will work with in the metaverse. “It’s convenient, as anyone with access to a VR headset or sometimes even a desktop computer or mobile device can access the metaverse,” Callahan explains. “Sometimes, this approach even offers advantages over real-world training. For example, when dealing with large, complex machines, digital twins might allow trainees to inspect and explore these machines to an unprecedented degree of detail.”
Beyond that, digital twins also enable businesses to create hyper-realistic simulations for their training and onboarding. Because digital twins are accurate representations of their real-life counterparts, the experience an employee gets by training in VR is often as effective as they would have from a real-world experience. With digital twins, businesses can run simulations depicting any number of operational circumstances, from regular maintenance to total meltdown. This capability is particularly advantageous when it comes to costly equipment. Businesses can now have hands-on training for new employees on how to approach malfunctions and emergencies without having to wait around for a situation to arise or induce one themselves, risking potential damage.
These simulations are an example of a trend known as gamification — the use of game design elements for non-entertainment purposes. For example, the integration of point scoring, win/lose scenarios, and competition in a training simulation makes the process much more involving than it may otherwise be. Because there are stakes (even if those stakes are simply bragging rights), these activities take advantage of humans’ natural psychological tendencies of competition and reward.
Why digital twins are such a powerful tool for training
The primary benefit of gamification is that it offers much better engagement and retention than other training methods. “Traditional training approaches, such as reading manuals, listening to lectures, or watching videos, are passive,” Callahan explains. “These approaches to training don’t require employees to actively engage with the content they are learning. However, with VR and AR-based training, trainees interact with digital twins, making the whole process more immersive. Studies show a retention rate of up to 75%, compared to the 10-30% of approaches like lectures or videos.”
Furthermore, one of the best things about the metaverse is that it can be accessed from anywhere, making VR and AR training a great, scalable solution for large enterprises. Businesses with locations around the world can use digital twins to train their employees on opposite sides of the globe. The result is a consistent training experience, regardless of where an employee is based.
However, the rapidly evolving nature of the metaverse means that new functionalities are being introduced every day. For example, integrating artificial intelligence technology into digital twins makes simulations even more realistic. An AI model can analyze data from the digital twin as well as the trainee’s actions and inputs to adjust in real time, allowing the scenarios it creates to be even more immersive and realistic.
Another innovation in VR and AR training that has shown great potential is haptic feedback. Using tools like controllers, gloves, and suits beyond the typical VR headset expands the immersion beyond the senses of sight and sound to include touch. In training, this can be invaluable because it not only lets the trainee see the machine and process they will work with but also feel it. The result is an even more realistic experience than simple AR or VR.
“By taking advantage of the power of digital twins, virtual reality, and augmented reality, businesses can improve their training processes in ways that rival or even exceed the efficiency of real-world training,” Callahan concludes. “In doing so, you’ll boost employee engagement and have new hires learning much more efficiently and quickly.”