“The Metaverse is Dead, Long Live the Metaverse”

On May 16th, AUDACE participated in the seminar “The Metaverse is Dead, Long Live the Metaverse” organized by the Aristote association at the premises of École Polytechnique in Paris Saclay. AUDACE was able to share its experience with the Metaverse during a Use Case dedicated to the use of this type of platform in professional training.

Despite its young age, the Metaverse already wears a cloak of shadows and speculation. Like the phoenix, the Metaverse disappears and reemerges, always more fascinating and promising. How can we ensure the long-term sustainability of this type of platform? How can we make it efficient for professional use, especially in training?

The Metaverse: A constantly evolving virtual universe.

The concept of the Metaverse refers to an online virtual world that provides a shared and persistent digital space where users can interact and engage in various activities. It is often described as a space where the boundary between the real world and the virtual world becomes blurred, integrating elements of virtual reality, augmented reality, online gaming, and online social networks. Users are represented by avatars and can contribute to the creation of content and the evolution of the virtual environment.

The history of the Metaverse dates back to ideas and concepts that have emerged over the decades. Neal Stephenson popularized the concept in his science fiction novel “Snow Crash” in 1992, depicting a virtual world called the “Metaverse.” The early incarnations of the Metaverse can be found in the virtual worlds and massively multiplayer online games of the 1990s and 2000s. The emergence of immersive devices such as VR and AR headsets has brought new perspectives to the development of the Metaverse.

Closely linked to the Metaverse, video games contribute to its popularity.

The future of the Metaverse: Virtual meetings, digital economy, and ethical challenges.

As for the future, the Metaverse’s future is constantly evolving and generating increasing interest. It could become a virtual meeting place for people from all around the world. Furthermore, it facilitates the digital economy with commercial opportunities and virtual marketplaces. Lastly, it stimulates creative and cultural collaboration. However, it also raises challenges and ethical questions. These challenges include privacy protection, online security, and content regulation.

That is why the development of the Metaverse depends on several key factors, such as technological advancements and investments from companies. It is also important to consider user adoption, interconnectivity, and standardization. Lastly, there are virtual economy and monetization considerations, as well as regulations and legal frameworks.

Towards immersive and collaborative learning...

In the professional domain, the Metaverse can be used to enhance remote meetings and collaboration. It can also be employed for training, learning, and creating virtual workspaces. For businesses, it is even more relevant for organizing professional events, data visualization, and modeling. Finally, it can also be involved in business-to-business commerce.

Specifically in terms of education, the Metaverse goes beyond immersive learning. It promotes immersive and collaborative learning. Learners can practice with colleagues from around the world in the Metaverse. They can also work with a trainer on a digital twin, solve problems, and share ideas, regardless of their geographical location. They can also benefit from multi-user simulations of work situations and interact with each other without taking risks. Audace has already had the opportunity to successfully develop initial Metaverses for companies like Orano and AFTRAL.

In conclusion, the Metaverse is an ever-evolving concept that offers a potential for innovation and transformation in various fields, from the gaming industry to the digital economy and professional training. Its future will depend on technological advancements, user adoption, corporate investment, and the establishment of appropriate regulations.

ORANO - Serious Game - Prévention des risques
BRIDGESTONE Assemblage Final
VERTEXA (TCA) - Serious Game VR
ORANO Smart Maintenance Manuella RA
Previous
Next

When VR becomes simple and ergonomic

AUDACE is particularly attentive to the technological advancements of virtual reality, which is constantly evolving. Every new release, every new announcement is a step closer to a more accessible, immersive, and affordable VR experience.

Standalone VR headsets are a major advancement in the field of virtual reality. They do not require an external PC to operate and are capable of running complex virtual scenes on their own. This technological advancement offers numerous advantages and opens up many opportunities for simulators and digital training.

To illustrate these advantages, Audace has chosen to showcase two of its off-the-shelf simulators: the Auxiliary Crane Driving Simulator and the Aerial Work Platform (AWP) Driving Simulator.

The auxiliary crane is a device mounted at the rear of a truck cabin and is used for lifting heavy loads or pallets. The Aerial Work Platform (AWP), on the other hand, is a mobile personnel lifting device composed of a platform or basket operated by an operator who needs to work at heights. Both of them are operated using a control box with buttons.

The simulators are training tools for safely operating these machines. They provide training on the proper usage of these vehicles while ensuring safety. They allow for preparation and recertification for the CACES® (Certificate of Aptitude in Safe Driving) qualification.

In a virtual environment such as a construction site or a warehouse, the simulators offer learners the opportunity to operate various vehicles and engage in a series of scenarios that they must master, including:

  • Operating the controls of the vehicle
  • Setting up the vehicle in the work area
  • Identifying the various risks associated with the use
  • Practical use case scenarios

To provide a training experience that is as realistic as possible, Audace offers solutions that go beyond virtual reality (VR). With our simulators, learners have the opportunity to use the actual remote controls of the equipment. This allows them to gain initial experience that can be easily transferred to real-life situations.

The advantages of standalone VR headsets

Until now, Audace simulators have been operating with a wired VR headset connected to a PC. Recently, the decision has been made to transition them to standalone VR headsets. This change in technology allows for the optimization of our solution by eliminating the need for an auxiliary PC. However, it requires a rethinking of the connection to the remote controls, using Bluetooth technology.

A standalone virtual reality solution

With the elimination of the auxiliary PC, only the headset is now required to operate the simulators. This evolution presents several advantages, such as the elimination of cumbersome cables, simplified operation (everything is managed through the headset), and increased reliability (due to the reduction of devices to maintain). Moreover, this transition allows for cost reduction through savings on PC and VR headset expenses. The standalone version is more financially accessible compared to the wired setup.

A more flexible VR headset ecosystem

With the OpenXR standard, Audace can make its range of simulators and future projects compatible with all models of VR headsets. OpenXR is a programming standard followed by all existing and upcoming virtual reality headsets. By using this standard, Audace develops virtual reality interactions that work across all headset models, providing a seamless and flexible experience. As a result, Audace can offer its clients the VR headset that best meets their needs, regardless of software constraints. This increased compatibility provides an improved user experience and facilitates the selection of the appropriate headset.

A wireless remote control

The transition to standalone VR headsets brings a significant improvement to the use of simulated vehicle remote controls. In collaboration with its partner Itowa, Audace is working on the development of a wireless control box, enabling its solution to be free from any type of cables. This advancement also has the advantage of reducing the setup and installation time of the solution, making it more user-friendly. The other benefit is that it helps reduce costs by eliminating the need for the radio beacon, which was previously required for proper operation.

A wireless remote control

The latest technological advancements in finger tracking, allowing real-time tracking of hand and finger movements, are now available on most VR headsets and have greatly improved in robustness in recent years. Whether it’s making selections in scenario menus or navigating within the virtual world, interactions rely solely on the cameras integrated into the headset. The addition of an additional camera on the front of the headset, such as the Leap Motion sensor, is no longer necessary.

This results in increased autonomy for learners.

With these various advancements and the integration of new interactive menus directly in the headset, Audace simplifies the use of its solutions. As a result, learners will be able to quickly access simulator scenarios and navigate through them independently, without requiring intervention from the instructor through the PC interface, as was previously required.

The factors influencing of the ROI of an immersive training

When it comes to developing virtual reality training tools, a common question arises: What is the return on investment (ROI)? AUDACE carries out numerous projects in virtual reality. Indeed, AUDACE can help you estimate the return on investment (ROI) of VR experiences. AUDACE is even able to unveil certain additional benefits that were not initially envisioned.

First ROI factor: Cost reduction related to training.

Each training content project has its own specificities, whether it’s job discovery, awareness, training on complex operations, or equipment operation. There is no mathematical formula that can measure the cost savings achieved through immersive training and is universally applicable to all situations. Nevertheless, it is possible, by taking the time to reflect and considering observed assumptions from existing projects, to estimate the cost reduction associated with this training modality. The calculation takes into account various factors such as:

  • Reduction in training time (~50% for a technical vocational training initially offered through an apprenticeship program).
  • La réduction des frais logistiques de la formation (location de matériel, frais de vie, …) : la formation vient à l’apprenant et non l’inverse.
  • Reduction in the immobilization of productive resources dedicated to training. In the case of creating a dedicated digital twin for training, it is possible to retain all production resources (human and material) without immobilization.
  • Reduction in costs of “wasted” raw materials due to errors during training or lack of practice in job placement.
  • Reduction in candidate dropout rate. Indeed, certain professions can have demanding working conditions (environment, physical exertion, stress related to operations, etc.). A virtual reality training allows learners to gradually become familiar with the profession and its constraints. This reduces the challenges of job placement.

As an example, AUDACE, in collaboration with its industrial clients (including ORANO and BRIDGESTONE), has observed that virtual training reduces the onboarding time by an average of 50%. Indeed, VR simulators allow for repetitive and varied work operations. The configuration of a VR training exercise takes just a minute! Sometimes it takes several hours to prepare the same exercise in real conditions. Moreover, all situations can be reproduced in virtual reality. Under normal conditions, it is impossible to program events such as breakdowns, incidents, etc., which slows down the progress of learners.

BRIDGESTONE - MOCKUP

2nd factor: Operational excellence of employees

VR training helps overcome many limitations and obstacles encountered in traditional in-person training.

With digital tools, it is possible to repeat operations as many times as needed. In-person training requires preparation time between two training sessions. On the other hand, immersive scenarios can be linked seamlessly without interruption. The real-time practice time during training is thus increased.

Moreover, all situations can be addressed during virtual training. Whether it’s dangerous situations for the operator, rare occurrences, or scenarios that are impossible to replicate on demand. These skills are usually acquired after several years of “learning by doing” experience.

Some of our clients have expanded digital training to a wider audience to make their teams more flexible. Once the investment for training is made, deploying it to a larger number of employees represents a negligible cost.

Furthermore, digital tools, especially immersive solutions, allow for the transmission of company standards to all users. Written work method sheets can be interpreted differently by the reader. In contrast, a scenario in virtual reality leaves no room for interpretation. AUDACE observes significant differences between the business processes imagined in the design office, the complex reality of the field, and the opinions of trainers. That is why the creation of virtual reality training is necessary. This training involves an expert trainer, a methods and processes manager, and possibly a workplace safety manager. It allows bringing together the quality requirements, operational reality, and employee safety into a single tool.

En effet, chaque serious accident costs a company a significant amount of money. Avoiding even a single severe accident is enough to make a virtual reality training financially viable.

Orano_EchafSeisme_06

3rd factor: Benefit on the company's image and attractiveness.

This third factor is more difficult to estimate and also more unexpected. A training in virtual, mixed, or augmented reality naturally has an innovative character, as the practice is still not widely spread. However, there are numerous opportunities for truly distinctive innovation: creating original educational pathways, leveraging new features of virtual or mixed reality headsets, integrating with physical equipment interfaces, and more.

Since AUDACE began creating immersive experiences, not a single year has passed without them receiving an award or recognition for their innovation.

This contributes to the attractiveness of the company. The younger generations are naturally drawn to immersive technologies. As a result, AUDACE’s creations are consistently featured in its clients’ trade shows and exhibitions. It showcases the company’s innovations, recruits young talents, and presents its products to its own clients.

To conclude, let’s recall the testimony of Sébastien Tranchant, Head of Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Learning & Development at Bridgestone, following the implementation of a blended learning program, including a theoretical part and a practical part on a virtual reality tire manufacturing simulator (developed by Audace) and a digital twin:

« This comprehensive training program has allowed us to increase productivity and ensure the safety of our employees by reducing safety incidents and quality issues by 30 to 50%. Furthermore, significant economies of scale have been achieved. Specifically, we have reduced the immobilization of production equipment required for training by 80% and the immobilization of human resources dedicated to this purpose by 90%. Many other positive impacts have been revealed, such as the enhanced reputation of the company featured in national media outlets… »