Many of us here at GM Authority were born just in time for the Golden Age of personal video game consoles, when an entire neighborhood could be decisively divided into those children who had a Playstation, and those with an N64. As a result, no one has to explain to us the utility of gaming, and its potential to soar well beyond its current status as a cultural novelty into something entirely different; we already know.
For those who don’t, consider Opel, who is developing an application to use the Nintendo Wii motion game controller and Microsoft Kinect motion capture camera in order to virtually train employees.
In particular, the so-called VISTRA project (VIrtual Simulation and TRaining of Assembly) is being developed for the purpose of readying assembly workers for new assignments. This has been a possibility in the past, but historically, it has been limited by the mouse and keyboard interface of the typical personal computer. But with the motion-sensitive game input controllers, Opel is hoping to add a level of spatial and tactile realism which was previously not possible.
This system of learning has its benefits. It’s intended to supplement – not replace entirely – the use of physical prototypes in assembly training, but it is substantially less expensive. And according to a release from Opel, an early evaluation of the VISTRA system has found that those virtually trained are 40 percent less likely to make mistakes than those trained on prototypes alone.
The VISTRA system will likely be fully implemented at Opel production facilities sometime within 2015. Just remember, when you buy an Opel product, part of your money is funding the nasty gaming habits of the marque’s employees.
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