IVRY Technologies, a company of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., recently launched a new start-up virtual reality (VR) initiative that offers a platform to help train the next generation of students in the electrical trade.
Based on the ongoing skilled labor shortage crisis, it's no secret the United States is going to be short on electricians in the near future. Statistically, the number of retiring electricians is outpacing the rate of new electricians entering the field, with 10,000 electricians retiring each year and only 7,000 entering the field in return. As a result, this is producing a knowledge gap in the electrical industry, which creates the need for additional training resources to prepare the next generation of electrical tradesmen.
The initial product offering is designed to simulate the experience of an electrical apprentice training under the tutelage of a master electrician. The user is guided through the experience, first learning how to install a single-pole switch, and gradually advancing to more complex procedures, such as installing a 3-way switch circuit. IVRY Technologies selected Groove Jones to develop an interactive training platform utilizing VR to train electrical apprentices on how to wire homes and commercial premises. The program, named VET (Virtual Electrical Training), can be customized for various training protocols, as well as complying with safety standards.
Scroll through the slides of this gallery to see how this platform works, sample simulations of what students experience, and examples of training content in action.
