2016 was an exciting year for Walmart. That’s precisely when the brand turned futuristic. Walmart had lost over a million workers following their inability to handle complex situations with customers. They needed a learning program that otherwise wouldn’t be disruptive. Walmart came up with an indigenous ploy, equipping over a million workers with VR headsets, promising a slice of the real world with actionable insights. From customer support to order fulfillment, they made a strong foray into harnessing the power of connectivity.
However, that’s not the first time Virtual Reality was adopted by brands. Ever since the world took an interest and started asking the question, “What is immersive learning?” VR has been ruling the roost. Immersive learning gained prominence as a part of experiential training programs, where emerging tech like VR and AR promises breakthroughs.
Connectivity is a major constraint here – from kindergarten and higher education to even modern-day workforce training.
Embracing Learning By Doing
Conventional ways of learning in a classroom scenario continue to exist for all good reasons. However, online learning predominates.
Multiple research studies have shown how individuals forget fifty percent of their learning in thirty minutes, seventy percent in a day, and ninety percent in a month. While schools and universities can afford revisions, such knowledge retention gaps aren’t favorable for businesses. More so in a scenario where automation is fast replacing humans across industries. Hence, the need to reskill the workforce is imminent.
According to a 2022 survey by McKinsey, nine out of ten businesses reportedly will face significant skill gaps by the end of 2027. Immersive learning could be a way to address such skill gaps arising out of knowledge retention and effectively train the workforce. In a corporate environment, creating simulated models that offer a glimpse of the real world could be a savior. This also inculcates active learning, which in turn boosts employee performance.
Here, connectivity has a major role to play, strictly because come-of-age tech like Augmented and Virtual Reality demands speed and high response time. While network lags, latency, and dropouts are only natural, it defeats the purpose of simulations. The real world doesn’t know what a pause is, so when you mimic the same, a poor or unsteady connection can give a wrong idea to the learner.
With fast response time, one can also do away with the commonly occurring VR sickness, where one’s brain assumes the body to be in motion, whereas in reality, you are resting.
Invariably, the abilities promised by VR are now demanding a movement beyond native devices. Without reliable connectivity, the plan is doomed. When you look at things from the perspective of user experience, that’s a priority for most businesses.
A Cue To A Rewarding Future
Ever since COVID disrupted how we work and think, companies have come to recognize the significance of immersive learning. They now understand how fast-track skill building is of the essence, and immersive learning is the way forward.
Take location-based AR platforms, for instance. Originally, such platforms were designed to help in geo-tracking and edge computing for historical events. In time, such platforms are increasingly being used by businesses to train their employees working with come-of-age technologies. Volvo Sweden reportedly uses an AR-based platform to train their workers to get acquainted with things in their smart factories. Using a range of assets, AR platforms demand seamless connectivity to work with 3D models, images, and audio to narrate a visual story to all learners.
The key focus here is on realism. Even a minor lag of a few seconds can make a significant difference in the way a human mind perceives reality. Undeniably, fast and stable connectivity is the only option.
As an employer, it makes sense to prioritize such learning strategies to retain the best talents. This also gives a reason for employees to continue working for a brand that is keen to invest in developing their careers.
Universal Access To Connectivity
Equitable learning ensures long-term success. With universal access to connectivity, brands have a better chance to see the big picture of immersive learning.
One such instance is a brand like Ericsson that has entered into a partnership with UNICEF to help map school connectivity across countries. It’s a vital step towards providing a child unrestricted access to connectivity for digital learning. The collaboration is a part of UNICEF’s ambitious program called Giga, which started in 2019 with the aim of connecting all schools with each other through the internet.
The coming together of brands like Ericsson and world bodies like UNICEF signals a positive impact of digital learning. In the days ahead, it would be even more rewarding to witness how such connected learning experiences can realize digital learning objectives.
Closing Thoughts
Undeniably, immersive learning has a lot to give as we progress into the future. We have already witnessed how market leaders are standardizing VR-based learning to enhance onboarding experiences and impact employee performance. It includes major verticals like health and safety, soft skills, and customer service, to name a few.
All this is made possible by seamless connectivity alone. That way, VR and other allied technologies can grow at scale to usher a range of positive impacts.
Today, VR is already shaking hands with the metaverse, where learners are interacting via realistic avatars. It’s almost like everyone is in the same room when, in reality, they are miles apart. Such a feat can never be possible without investing in world-class connectivity.
