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Training Gets a Lift - 3D Interactive

The average person's familiarity with the world of the training simulator most likely stems from media images we see of airline pilots training in virtual environments that look and feel real. In fact, the virtual environment is so real that the simulator has become central to pilot certification and ongoing 'refresher' training.

The market opportunity to extend simulation training into all manner of transportation and equipment is growing rapidly as technological advances enable the realization of significant safety record and productivity improvement.

Edmonton-based 3D Interactive is expanding its virtual reality business into simulation training innovation for heavy equipment. TRLabs has provided technology development assistance with the building of a micro-controller that interfaces a real control dashboard of a boom lift with 3DI's Pure LightTM graphics and real time engine. The result – a training simulation with 'hands on' functionality and a visual environment with virtually photographic realism.

The boom lift is a common construction and maintenance tool of the trades because their ability to reach up to 135ft, and over obstacles, offers huge productivity gains over ladders and scaffolding. "The boom lift is a good entry point for our expansion into heavy equipment training simulation, because it is potentially very dangerous and hands on driving experience is not readily available," says 3DI Creative Director Armand Cadieux. "The simulation is an effective hands on training system in today's challenging labor market – where language barriers can be quickly overcome through visual-based training, the learning curve can be reduced, the knowledge transfer is traceable, and the result can be an operator who can quickly hit the ground running with very effective and safe operational knowledge of an Aerial Work Platform in real-world conditions."

Armand Cadieux notes that the advanced realism of visual graphics and physics 3DI can generate with its technology creates the look and feel of the most advanced gaming in the world. "The stakes aren't high in gaming like they are in training environments, but the parallel is that the more real we make the experience, the more the user will immerse in the experience, enjoy it, and truly learn from it."

3DI has been in discussions with a number of equipment manufacturers to explore technology sales opportunities. It is also anticipated that companies with equipment inventory will be interested in the training opportunity offered by the technology.

The development of 3DI's Pure Light technology was aided by TRLabs. Pure Light's unique light Ray Tracing efficiently allows users to virtually explore near photographically perfect environs in real time, at their own speed, unconfined by the limits of reality.