Sudbury, ON. NORCAT, a global leader in the development and provision of skilled labour training and innovation services, is pleased to announce its Mine Rescue VR Experience is showcased in Facebook’s Oculus "VR for Good" initiative. The recognition demonstrates how virtual reality can influence training and education for safety in the global mining industry.
Recognizing that VR is one of the fastest-growing segments of the learning technology industry given its ability to transform education, improve productivity, and advance social movements, Facebook implemented the Oculus "VR for Good" initiative in 2015 to support organizations who are developing and implementing non-traditional VR technologies to the make the world a better place.
"Experiential learning technologies, including virtual reality, represent the future of training and engaged learning, as their use allows learners to effectively gain and retain knowledge through a meaningful experience," says Ed Wisniewski, NORCAT’s Director of Technology. "The Mine Rescue VR experience is just one example of the virtual learning technologies Studio NORCAT is developing to provide engaging and meaningful learning experiences that are re-defining the future of training and development."
The mine rescue simulation enables safe and cost-effective training for hazardous and dangerous situations. Using the Mine Rescue VR Experience, mine rescue volunteers can practice emergency simulations that are dangerous, expensive, and time-consuming to recreate in a physical mine. Utilizing VR, mine rescue volunteers control an avatar and work with a virtual team to overcome real world challenges in an underground mine rescue situation. The limitless combination of emergency scenarios and environments, combined with the ability to train anytime, from anywhere using the Oculus Rift S, allows mine rescue volunteer trainees to increase knowledge retention, think critically, and create safer emergency response decisions.
"Ontario Mine Rescue, a part of Workplace Safety North, is extremely proud of the work done by Ed Wisniewski, Andrew Kostuik, and the team at NORCAT to showcase the critical task of mine rescue as part of the Mine Rescue VR experience," says Ted Hanley, Ontario Mine Rescue General Manager. "The inclusion of the experience in the Oculus "VR for Good" campaign is a tremendous achievement for mine safety awareness not only in the province of Ontario, but also worldwide."
Media Contact: Lindsay Lane | NORCAT | llane@norcat.org | 705.521.8324 x337
ABOUT NORCAT
NORCAT is a global leader in skilled labour training and development focused on developing and delivering programs, services, and resources that enhance productivity and safety in the global skilled labour industries.