Construction Unions Warming Up to Virtual Reality Training

摘要

As virtual reality technologies continue to evolve, construction trade unions are showing interest in incorporating them into apprenticeship training. A virtual training room is coming out of beta testing, and some unions have begun to acquire equipment simulators.At the Iron Workers (IU) annual conference last year, the Kelly Cos. and Serious Labs demonstrated a virtual lift simulator and an early version of One Room, a collaborative VR training environment that will let multiple users work in the same space (ENR 10/23/17 p. 31). "We are looking at what's out there right now," says Michael Relyin, the IU's general organizer for the apprenticeship and training department. Relyin notes that some branches are using a virtual welder simulator from Lincoln Electric. "When the virtual welder first hit the market, it was expensive and you got a lot of people hesitant to utilize the opportunity," he says. "Over time I've seen people start to realize the benefits of using it. I know that starting out a couple of locals used it."