All we want for Christmas is a VisCube Immersive 3D Display

The VisCube multi-screen 3D display provides users with a cave-like immersive virtual reality experience. Equipped with a Wii-like motion-tracking wand, users can interact with the simulation that surrounds them.

VisCube Enables Surgeons to Practice Procedures Virtually


The University of Alabama, Birmingham has acquired a VisCube and plans to use it to allow surgeon trainees to practice complicated operations on virtual patients before they ever step into an operating room. The mechanical engineering department plans to write VisCube simulations for dentistry, physical therapy and engi­neering.

CSIRO Develops 3D Colonoscopy Simulator

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, has created a 3D colonoscopy training simulator that will enable trainee surgeons to interact with accurate computer-based simulations of the human colon. The simulator uses a modified clinical colonoscope and realistic haptic (force) feedback device to provide a lifelike clinical experience.



Rather than teach complex medical procedures like colonoscopy using real patients, surgical training simulations offer a safe and cost-effective training environment in which complicated procedures can be taught with no risk to patients.

Colonoscopy, considered the best examination for the detection and removal of precancerous polyps, is a difficult procedure to master, requiring trainee surgeons to perform 300 to 1,000 operations before reaching an expert level. Researchers at CSIRO's Preventative Health Flagship believe the simulator will help reduce the incidence of bowel cancer.



Read more about the CSIRO Colonoscopy Training Simulator.

Boeing Unveils New Visual Display For Simulation Applications

Boeing unveiled its Constant Resolution Visual System (CRVS) at The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) this year. The CRVS, the company's newest visual display, helps simulation developers deliver immersive environments by providing a high-resolution "out-the-window" view for operators of equipment training simulations. The CRVS can be used for training operators of jets, rotorcrafts, or ground-based vehicles.


The CRVS will be production-ready in early 2010

"CRVS is unique because it offers the same high resolution throughout the entire viewing area, providing an uninterrupted field of view and unvarying target acuity," said Mark McGraw, Boeing vice president for Training Systems & Services. "It makes virtual training missions and other simulations more detailed and effective."

The CRVS's High Definition projector format is compatible with a wide variety of commercial-off-the-shelf projectors, and also uses significantly fewer projectors than other high-resolution displays, making it a more flexible and cost-effective solution.

BCIT Launches The CUBE

British Columbia Institute of Technology Launches The CUBE: Centre for the use of 3D simulation technology, taking teaching and learning to a new level.

With a US$1 million grant from Lockheed Martin and $380,000 in software contributions from NGRAIN Corporation, BCIT has launched The Cube.




BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/02/09 -- It will transform the way instructors teach and the way students learn at BCIT. It will bring the workplace into the classroom and enrich curriculum - virtually.

The CUBE initiative places 3D simulations of expensive, rare, and leading edge equipment into the hands of BCIT students, anytime, anywhere allowing learners to explore complex components and systems in a 3D virtual world before they touch the real thing.

Read the entire press release

Interactive 3D Equipment Simulation Saves U.S. Army Engineer School $14-million (USD)

I/ITSEC 2009, Orlando FL

Canadian firm NGRAIN announced today at I/ITSEC that the US Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood – which trains soldiers how to repair and overhaul construction equipment that supports ground missions – is achieving a $14-million (USD) savings each year by using interactive 3D equipment simulators. The savings has enabled the school to extend the curriculum to include training on new vehicle technology.

“With NGRAIN-enabled courseware in our classrooms, we are able to shave 12 hours off the 40-hour brake system training block,” explained Cecil Caldwell, Chief, Maintenance Training Division, Fort Leonard Wood, US Army. “With an annual training load of approximately 1,200 students, this one-and-a half day reduction in training time translates to more than $14-million in savings per year. We now apply this savings to deliver training for new vehicle technology, including wet brakes maintenance and repair.”

http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/news/archive/2009/12/02/canadian-simulation-firm-saves-u-s-army-school-money.aspx

Game of the Show: Virtual Battlespace 2

Although it was first released in 2007, Virtual Battlespace 2 by Bohemia Interactive seems to be the gold standard for virtual training simulations. This is the project that is referenced most consistently across the various sessions at the I/ITSEC conference.

The nice thing about this clip is that the specific simulation features are named as you go through the video.

Given this is for the military, there's a lot of shooting going on in this clip, but there's also a good deal of general features that you'd want to see in any simulation creation engine.

IITSEC Training Simulation Conference - Day 0

A pre-conference pre-crowd shot from the Orlando IITSEC 2009 conference on training simulations.

The IITSEC 2009 schwag. Note the all-important Rockwell-Collins sponsored anti H1N1 hand sanitizer.

Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games

Check out the latest from Clark Aldrich, a great industry participant and thinker, "The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games". This is a combination encyclopedia, style guide, and survival guide for those interested in deploying or developing simulations. Clark has a great ability to find and describe common patterns across the wide array of simulations that exist.

I/ITSEC Conference on Training Simulations

If you're able, be sure to check out the I/ITSEC conference on training simulations. This is the largest conference that focuses exclusively on simulations and training. The show includes panels and tutorials and is relevant for both purchasers and developers of simulators and simulation technology.

If you can't make I/ITSEC, there's also the Serious Games Summit at the Game Developers conferences in San Franciso starting March 9th, 2010.

Creating Low-poly Models for Your Simulation

This post shows the process involved in getting your raw high-poly 3D assets into a form that is ready for a real-time interactive simulation. It's important to understand that this process is necessary and to factor in development time accordingly.

As an example, we'll show a few production images of the F-22 being developed for an aircraft deicing training simulation being built in partnership with Global Ground Support.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/forgefx/

Custom Application Development and Sole Source Awards

The highly specialized nature of custom application development for training simulation software leads to strong partnerships and sole source awards. Global Ground Support's custom-developed simulator software has a function by function parity to their real-world equipment. This tight integration of hardware and software gives manufacturers who also offer associated simulation products a strong competitive advantage in the marketplace - no one else can offer software which so closely matches the manufacturers equipment.

According to Federal Business Opportunities:

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE: The 3rd Contracting Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska intends to award a sole source purchase order to Global Ground Support, LLC for the acquisition of a Global De-Icing Training Simulator required in support of the Elmendorf AFB Wing Flying mission. Global Ground Support is the only supplier of a de-icing simulator designed specifically for the de-icing vehicles used at Elmendorf AFB.

This purchase will be made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Other Than Full and Open Competition as authorized by FAR 13.501. The anticipated award date is 19 Aug 2009. Please note that this is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all interested parties who believe they can meet the requirements are invited to submit in writing complete information describing their ability to provide the product listed above. Deadline date for the submittals is 18 Aug 2009 at 4 pm Alaska Standard Time.

ForgeFX Develops 3D Pig Farm Training Simulation for Pfizer Animal Health

ForgeFX partnered with Carthage Veterinary Services to develop the Pfizer Animal Health Virtual Pork Production Simulation, named Virtual Walking the Pens. Pfizer Animal Health’s dedication to the health and wellness of animals, and a commitment to research combine to help protect the health of farm animals and the productivity of livestock. The training and education taught by the simulator allows pork producers to help pigs stay healthy, resulting in a more profitable operation. This interactive 3D simulation allows users to work in a virtual 3D farm, diagnosing and treating pigs at the first sign of disease, which is the key to a successful pork production business.



This custom interactive 3D simulation, available in both French and English, allows Pfizer customers to do a virtual barn-walkthrough of a wean-to-finish farm, identifying and treating sicknesses in the barn. Once a player has identified issues they must take the appropriate action to correct the problem, or experience the consequences in the barn and the effect on their bottom line. The simulation allows the user to experience many different scenarios within the virtual environment, similar to those that pork producers deal with on a daily basis in the real world. Ranging from pigs with neurological problems, to clogged waterers and feeders, to Mulberry heart disease, the simulation provides a virtual barn for the users to work in, spotting and treating sick pigs. The user's score, determined by the level of profitability attained by the virtual farm, is tracked by the simulation and delivered at the conclusion of a session, along with assessments and recommendations for a higher level of efficiency.



The purpose of this training simulation is not to replace existing training, but to provide supplemental education to the existing training curriculum. The simulation is a great training tool for new employees as well as a valuable refresher for those who are already experienced in pork production. Knowing how to quickly identify and treat illnesses is crucial to running a profitable livestock farm. This 3D simulation provides a risk-free environment for farmers to experience the potential pitfalls of pork production and avoid them in the future, when real-world situations confront them. Farmers are able to experiment with different barn management techniques to find the approach that works best, something that is easy to do in a simulation, but not possible or practical in the real-world. Risks to livestock, personnel, and material consumption are removed in the simulation, making it a valuable tool for teaching and training.



Combining deep content expert knowledge with proven interactivity models, Pfizer Animal Health, Carthage Veterinary Services, and ForgeFX developed this 3D simulation that allows users to quickly grasp the controls and get to work in a virtual barn. The simulated barn is fully functional, including interactive water medicators, curtain controllers, fans, thermostats, feeders, mats, lights, and of course pigs. The simulation promotes education and improved health of all the animals in the operation.


Learn more and download the 3D simulation here.