Originally published by POLICE MAG

How realistic is it?

This is the first and possibly most important question to ask before going with any VR simulation training tool. If it is unrealistic and looks more like a video game or doesn’t meet real-world task demands, trainees will not take it seriously, and potentially resulting in negative training artifacts. Did your officers experience simulation sickness during your test and evaluation?

 

How relevant is the content?

As training needs change and evolve with time, so should the content of your training. With new laws and media attention, training pain points can shift quickly. Make sure that your training platform can keep up by either receiving annual updates or being able to download new content.

 

Is the training transferrable?

It is not really “training” if cadets are not gaining any skills or knowledge – it’s just a “check the box” style of learning that is only completed to meet requirements. When officers are really prepared for the field, it will show in their performance both in and out of the training room. If officers are recalling skills learned from the training program and applying them to real life, it is safe to say it is an effective method. If you can not 100% guarantee accurate weapon tracking, you may be building bad skills.

 

Can you use the same tools you use on the job?

We have all seen the colorful training pistols or VR controllers, but they don’t recoil and often don’t even have the same weight and fit as the officer’s duty weapon. You also should be able to train without only firearms, but all the tools on your belt. This includes CEW devices, OC spray, flashlights, and even just using your verbal de-escalation techniques.

 

Are there flexible pricing options?

When purchasing a VR training tool, are their choices beyond just making an upfront capital purchase? See if there are options for obtaining grants, or even if the VR company has promotions or leasing opportunities. Many agencies are tight on cash these days, but that shouldn’t stop you from being able to obtain effective training. Spending more on training means less possibility of costly failure-to-train lawsuits!

In discussing the difference between VR and AR Training with Police Magazine, Lon Bartel, director of training and curriculum for VirTra, touched on some points that explain why Augmented Reality Training for law enforcement can be more effective than VR.

The first problem addressed with Virtual Reality was “VR sickness” which is caused by the cognitive disconnect of when your senses are perceiving movement but your body is relatively still. Some trainers try to lessen this by having students sit in chairs while they are wearing the headsets but this can cause more harm than good when training.

Bartel further talks about how training in this way could cause bad training scars in that it trains students in practice to not move from the line when they feel the need to use force because they might bump into something or make themselves sick. This is where Augmented Reality Training comes in to combat this.

Augmented Reality Police Training allow students to utilize and move around their real environment by having the system insert people or items in order to enhance the real-world space that they are in. This is different from VR because the student’s senses and the body’s movement are less likely to contradict each other, mitigating the sickness that comes with Virtual Reality.

Another point Bartel touches on is the use of CGI in VR training. With CGI characters, students are likely to experience the Uncanny Valley effect, which explains that people would be, “repelled and revolted by interactions with robots that appear ‘almost human’ but not exactly human”.

This creates a challenge in de-escalation and use-of-force training because the CGI characters are unable to represent the subtleties of human behavior. Students are then faced with the difficulty in be unable to read the character’s emotions and not knowing if they are reacting to the threat or the “subconscious aversion” that they have towards the virtual character.

Conversely, Augmented Reality Training allows agencies to place real people to play the roles of the characters in the training scenarios. Additionally, these “characters” are able to exist in the real space that the student is in. Thus, the student is interacting with humans displaying real emotions in a real-world space, creating a more effective training environment.

To learn more and read the full article about Augmented Reality Police Training, click here!

When shopping for televisions, speakers, smartphones, etc., consumers understand variations of these technologies exist. When shopping for a TV, you consider clarity, size, features and more. So why wouldn’t you do the same research when making an important purchase— training for your department?

Variations of virtual reality law enforcement training tools exist, but not all provide the same results. Using screens and projectors gives an entirely different experience and result when compared to virtual reality (VR) goggles/headsets or police virtual reality training. VR is an improving and promising technology, but it is still not up to the task of training officers. Training is a task that requires high-fidelity environments that immerse officers.

 

Avoiding Negative Training

Training scars – also called negative training – occurs when what you do in the classroom does not accurately match what is done in the real world. VR is lightweight and compact, plus the shiny new technology can sway agencies, but how is the training content?

Marksmanship is just one example of how dangerous negative training can occur with VR. When aiming a replica weapon with VR goggles on, the ballistic accuracy is not accurate enough to provide an experience that transfers to the field. The movement is not realistic, and one company even has trainees sitting down in order to use a CEW device. Officers are seldom seated when deploying a CEW weapon, so this can cause accuracy issues when trainees are moved into a real-life situation.

 

Quality & Depth of Training Content

VirTra’s police virtual reality training is video-based, and for good reasons. Filmed with professional equipment and real actors, the goal is for the scenarios to be immersive and lifelike. This allows officers to develop empathy for on-screen characters, just as they would in reality. CGI has drastically improved over the years as we have seen in movies and video games, but VR training graphics tend to be cartoon-like and do not elicit an empathetic response.

Low-quality virtual reality law enforcement training can also feed into the previously discussed topic of negative training. When simulated humans are unrealistic, it is likely that trainees will not be able to pick up on subtle visual cues such as expressions and minor motions. It is also unlikely that officers will be able to experience stress in the same way as they would if they were interacting with a video-based character. If the environment is not realistic, recruits will not take it seriously.

VirTra’s Co-CEO Bob Ferris and Director of Training Lon Bartel have explored this topic. If you would like to learn more about the differences between police virtual reality training and screen-based simulation training options, click here: All That Glitters is Not Gold with VR Headsets_VirTra_Whitepaper

Virtual reality of all kinds has taken the world by storm and offered unique ways to learn. This does not just apply to first responders either – VR is used everywhere from the medical field to cell phone provider retailers. From screen-based to headsets, their use has gone far beyond just entertainment.

Simulation training is not a new concept, despite all the new military and law enforcement technology training options. In the mid- to late-1900’s, simulation took the form of medical dummies and models of limbs (Singleton, 2022). It has been a method for trainees in various careers to learn from experience in a safe environment. What has changed is the technology – but the training points of learning by doing have stayed the same.

Just like simulation training in general, VirTra’s products have also evolved with time. The end goal of ensuring police officers and military servicemembers get home safely every night is something that has not changed. Some of our notable evolutions include 4K projection – something that has yet to be done in the law enforcement simulation training industry.

 

4K Simulators

VirTra announced the V-300® 4K nearly three years ago at IACP 2019. Simulators with these projectors were shipped to clients around the world in 2020. Many law enforcement agencies have taken advantage of this unique high-definition technology – one example is Orlando PD. They have been able to train their de-escalation tactics as well as practice interactions with those who have a mental illness.

The 4K projectors allow high-quality video projection to be displayed on the screens of the training simulator. Law enforcement officers can benefit from the increased detail, allowing them to notice subtle cues such as facial expressions and movements. The 4K simulator has made law enforcement use of force training much more realistic than before.

 

The Importance of Visual Acuity

Some types of simulation technology take time to evolve into a reliable source of training. CGI is commonly used, but does not show realistic images. While CGI in movies and video games has come a long way, many simulation companies that utilize CGI in virtual reality training have low quality images. This causes the simulation to appear like a 90’s video game character rather than a real person.

Not only will trainees miss out on learning to detect subtle movements, they will also have a harder time relating to the character as they would towards a human – or at least something that looks like one. The Uncanny Valley effect theorizes that people can be repulsed by something that looks vaguely human, but not quite (Mori, 2012).

 

Physical and Psychological Fidelity

Fidelity is a term commonly used for military and law enforcement training. Did you know there are two vital types?

Physical fidelity relates to having a realistic setting. This includes being able to see from more than just one angle (such as by using a multi-screen system), and using the same tools that are utilized in the field. This can include the same CEW device, duty weapon, flashlight, etc.

Psychological fidelity is when trainees engage in the same mental processes as they do in the field. This is where realistic visuals come in, as an environment that looks “fake” may not appropriately represent the setting. Cadets may not take unrealistic training seriously.

Both types of fidelity should be present to maximize training efforts. Warfighters and law enforcement must find their training environment ‘believable’ in order to get the most out of it and stay safer on the streets.

 

Work must be done to perfect newer technologies before those who protect our communities rely on it. It is vital to choose training that makes the trainee’s heart rate increase and adrenaline pumping. With these parameters, skill transfer is possible.

Contact a specialist to learn about the V-300 4K and how it can prepare trainees for the field by providing lifelike experiences in a safe environment.

 

References

Singleton, M. (2022, July 31). Flashback Friday – Practice Makes Perfect: The History of Simulation. Retrieved from Virginia Nursing EDU: https://www.nursing.virginia.edu/news/flashback-history-of-simulation/

Mori, M. (2012). Translated by MacDorman, K. F.; Kageki, Norri. “The uncanny valley”. IEEE Robotics and Automation. 19 (2): 98–100. doi:10.1109/MRA.2012.2192811

VR, the once ‘futuristic’ technology, is “hot” and starting to show up more and more. Over the span of a couple of decades, it has trickled into medical and law enforcement industries, promising new and better ways of training for doctors, officers, military personnel and other specialty industries.

On the surface, VR headsets sound almost too good to be true, the cure-all for the training needs of police. However, if you spend even 5 minutes actually going through the current VR training programs you will notice problems come to light.

Tools of the Trade

For the full training effect, the trainee must be able to deploy the tools of their trade, such as firearm, Axon® TASER®, OC and flashlights. Moreover, these tools must be able to replicate the real-world but most VR today can only be ‘close’ to the real-world. Why is ‘close’ not good enough? Can you imagine training for a hostage situation where the pistol was a different weight and shape and the tracking was off just enough to where you don’t know if your shot would hit the hostage or the hostage taker? You’d leave the training potentially worse-off and more confused than before the training began. This is called negative training and, like the ‘do no harm’ code in medicine, it is also a mantra that instructors live by.

VR Sickness

One of the most common complaints of VR training is the motion sickness—commonly known as “VR Sickness” or “Cybersickness.” As a result, individuals experience disorientation, nausea and/or eye fatigue¹. One study discovered more than 80% of participants experienced nausea and that out of those individuals, 9.2% vomited as a result².

Why this happens is quite simple: the brain receives visual information from the eyes that does not match physical information brought by the rest of the body. Or in other words, you see movement via VR but naturally do not feel the same exact movement in your inner ear¹.

De-escalate Polygons?

In addition to the problem of correct tracking and movement—or really, the lack thereof—is the problem of CGI (computer generated images – like a video game character). Headsets typically utilize CGI environments and subjects, making it easier for the officer to ‘look’ around the environment and see from every angle.

But think about what it takes to make CGI look human. It’s a careful combination of natural body movement, eye movement, subtle facial and body cues, and more. To create a realistic human takes an entire team of graphic artists and animation specialists, who still struggle to make ‘CGI humans’ look human.

This is because of the “Uncanny Valley”; when a simulated human becomes 99% lifelike, humans naturally focus on the missing 1%³. Whether it is the slack skin, off-kilter movements or lack of sparkle in their eyes, we become off-put and distracted by the subject. Instead of seeing 99% of a human they see 100% of a non-human, video game avatar. As such, it is unrealistic to expect officers to train with CGI subjects when the officers themselves are disconnected by the fake characters.

Officer training is not a game and should not be treated as such. Although VR has continued to improve its technologies and visuals, there are side effects and immersion-breaking problems that cannot be ignored. Instead, departments must supply the most realistic, beneficial and skill-building training to their officers. Find out how by contacting a VirTra representative or watching our training here.

 

Sources:

  1. Eunhee Chang, Hyun Taek Kim & Byounghyun Yoo (2020) Virtual Reality Sickness: A Review of Causes and Measurements, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 36:17, 1658-1682, DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2020.1778351
  2. Stanney KM, Hale KS, Nahmens I, Kennedy RS. What to Expect from Immersive Virtual Environment Exposure: Influences of Gender, Body Mass Index, and Past Experience. Human Factors. 2003;45(3):504-520. DOI:10.1518/hfes.45.3.504.27254
  3. Thompson, Clive. (2004). The Undead Zone Why Realistic Graphics Make Humans Look Creepy.

The Inconvenient Truths About VR-Based Goggle Training

By Lon Bartel and Bob Ferris

It is tempting to embrace VR training. After all, VR headsets are high-tech and will surely be welcomed by millennials, right? Actually, like so many things in life, the truth is more complicated.

Training?

Let us start with the fundamentals. Is the trainee receiving important and valid training? If de-escalation training is needed, then realistic and accurate human appearance, speech and movement is required, otherwise any outcome during training could be dismissed due to the lack of realism. Likewise, if marksmanship training is needed, then a realistic and accurately tracked weapon is needed, otherwise any outcomes during training could be dismissed due to a lack of realism of the simulated weapon. But, if both de-escalation and marksmanship are to be trained, these problems are only magnified.

Imagine practicing on a simulator that shows video game-like characters and the impact of all rounds are 5 inches to the left. After, the officer is informed they failed the hostage scenario—but did they? If the hostage taker was a real human, the officer could have read their body language, the look in their eyes, the tightness of their grip and, if the officer fired a real pistol, they know they would have hit the hostage taker instead of the hostage.

If officers adjust to the training, intentionally firing 5 inches to the right, they might do better in the next scenario but far worse in real life. This situation is a textbook example of the term “negative training”, when training actually hampers performance. There is no room for this in 2021 America, when perfected policing is demanded now more than any other time in history.

One inconvenient training challenge lies with human realism. For VR headset-based training, it is very common to use computer game-looking avatars. Keep in mind that people are astonishingly capable at reading subtle clues presented by humans in real encounters, but cannot ‘read’ these computer-generated avatar humans. This all but eliminates the effectiveness of gaining new insights and skills during the training session. An indicator of being on the wrong path is when a trainee reports to their fellow officers after VR training, “The avatars were a joke – nothing like talking with a real person.”

Officers must rely on nuanced verbal cues in de-escalation and judgmental use of force situations in order to predict what might happen next. This is how officers make split-second to raise their tone of voice, lowering a weapon or choosing to fire.

Our reliance on subtle cues is reinforced by multiple research studies. These state, on average, people place 55% importance on body language, 38% importance on tone of voice and 7% importance on the words spoken by the other individual³, ⁴.

If over 50% of a person’s decision-making is based on nonverbal communication alone, then naturally, computer avatars—with their lack of ability to recreate subtle body language—do not equal effective training. Especially in decision-making training where human interaction is critical. But a solution exists. Instead of VR, certified video-based training is needed, as it utilizes photorealistic people who present accurate cues for officers, which makes life-saving training effective. Since video-based training varies immensely from supplier to supplier, it is equally important that the simulation training content be high-quality and certified by IADLEST or another respected national or international association. Relying on certified curriculum is also legally prudent – if shots are fired, a law suit can occur and juries will want to know if the agency provided effective training or not.

 

To continue reading, download the entire article here.

Virtual Reality, often abbreviated to VR, is a technological phenomenon that has swept through the entertainment industry and left everyone in awe. The same technology is beginning to push its way into training, with companies like Verizon utilizing it to train for armed robberies. Now, law enforcement is beginning to have these tools at their disposal.

With simulation training reaching more and more agencies across the globe, screens may not be the only option available to law enforcement, but is it the best way to train? Below is a list of six common myths associated with VR training for police and why it may struggle compared to screen-based simulation training.

Myth #1: Simulation Training is All About the Same

Do law enforcement officers receive the same benefits regardless of what type of simulation training they use? The short answer is no. For training to be valid, there must be both physical and psychological fidelity for skills to transfer accordingly. Physical fidelity focuses on how closely the training environment replicates what exists on the field. Psychological fidelity on the other hand is focused on how closely the mental processes that occur in training match those that occur in real life.

There is a marriage between physical and psychological fidelity – both are important and one should not be neglected in favor of the other. These two validity processes must be in place for simulation training to truly be effective and transferable.

Myth #2: Video and CGI Humans Are About the Same

While CGI humans have made tremendous leaps and bounds over the years – the latest movies prove it – they are still not ready to be used in a training environment. Video still surpasses the realism provided by CGI humans and is much less expensive and time-consuming. Just as advances have been made with CGI, the same goes for video technology, which is a rapidly growing segment of the tech industry.

Myth #3: Realistic CGI Humans are Just Around the Corner

Despite the evolution of computer graphics, there are a few limitations that should not be ignored. The first is that computers use “shortcuts” to render scenes quickly, resulting in a lower-quality human replica. Even minor details that appear abnormal can cause people to feel discomfort when gazing upon a computer-generated human look-alike. At this point in time, seamless realism would only be achievable by the most talented graphic artists with the longest hours – who are only recently beginning to attain quality equal to video.

Myth #4: You Can Easily Make Any Scenario You Want with VR & CGI Humans

While CGI is coming closer to creating a photorealistic human, not many graphic artists have harnessed the technology yet – even with unlimited time and resources. And it is not just about having the computer image look human; they must move and behave human-like as well. Without all the working parts, both physical and psychological fidelity would be absent. Trainees would not feel the same empathy felt for a human replica as they would for something they associate with an actual person.

Myth #5: If CGI Humans Aren’t Realistic, We Just Need to Spend More Money on Them

There have been countless years where designers have attempted to make the perfect human replica. Whether it’s robots/androids or CGI, there has always been something slightly “off” that places it within the Uncanny Valley. The Uncanny Valley is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when something appears human…but something is missing. While lovable robots like Star Wars’ R2D2 tend to be thought of as cute, when a robot or image is very similar to a human but is missing a certain component, people tend to be revolted by it. Developers have tried numerous times to escape the Valley, but have only fallen even further within. Since CGI is not convincing enough, it won’t work for training.

Myth #6: Low Quality Simulation Won’t Harm Anyone

Even though an agency may purchase a simulator to help its officers, the same simulator could harm them if they are using incorrect training approaches. There are three fundamental components that every simulator should have in order to be helpful rather than harmful: weapon realism/accuracy, judgmental use of force, and stress during training. When a simulator lacks even one of these components, the low-quality training value could cause training scars.

For a more in-depth review of the topic, click the button below to download the Whitepaper authored by VirTra CEO and Chairman Bob Ferris and VirTra Director of Training Lon Bartel.