If you could put all the odds on your side to execute a dangerous task without incident, would you?  Of course you would!  But would it be your reflex to look to your computer and an interactive 3D application to accomplish this?  Probably not.  Yet.

The problem with dangerous situations is that you can’t really simulate them in real-life without mobilizing lots of resources and, well um, risking your safety.  First Aid courses taught with lifelike dummies can give you a lifelike situation in real life, without the risk, and efficiently help you learn your stuff.  But when you digress to scenarios like tight rope walking over a lava pit, or more seriously cleaning up toxic waste, you quickly realize there’s nothing more serious than a near-life simulation.

Through a research project destined to push the limits of 3D immersive training, partners Emissive, CEA and UTC Research are building an interesting training program for gasoline truck drivers.

Unlike when you or I fill’er up at the gas station, the gasoline truck drivers risk their lives each time they do the same.  The possibilities for accidents abound.  For example explosions can ignite with something so minimal as static electricity in your hair.  If you have a leak, what to do?  Etc.,etc.

Emissive has a stand at Laval Virtual this year, so I was able to sneak in a chat with Fabien and Emmanuel about VS3 (Virtual reality for Safe Seveso Subcontractors).  Here’s a look at the early work:

I look forward to see how this project progresses, and especially to see how the test with the truck drivers goes.  Normally you don’t associate immersive virtuality and 3D with gasoline truck drivers, but in our brave new world, these types of serious game applications for a non-geek public, I predict, will become commonplace.

What do you think about V3S?

Signing off from Laval Virtual 2010,

Kate