Tim Howes
← Immersive

XR for Training: DHS

How should a federal agency adopt immersive training? A two-year answer, made usable.

2 yrslandscape assessment
$2Mprogram
10factors of immersion, mapped
XR for Training: DHS
Client
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Company
AccessVR [confirm years]
Role
Researcher and Design Director
Team
[Team size]
Discipline
Research, landscape assessment, framework and guide design

Challenge

DHS wanted to know whether immersive technology could improve its training, and how to adopt it without wasting money on hardware that sits in a closet.

Solution

  • A two-year, $2M landscape assessment of immersive technology for training.
  • Research into the trends, challenges and opportunities of immersive learning, written up as the Landscape Assessment on Immersive Learning report.
  • The findings were distilled into a pocket guide: what immersion is, how to design for it, which technology fits, how to measure it, and a roadmap that starts small with role players and 360 video.

My role

Highlights

The Taxonomy of Immersive Experience: 10 factors of immersion, each rated 0 to 4. Taxonomy by M. Obeid and J. Ruscella (2021).
The Taxonomy of Immersive Experience: 10 factors of immersion, each rated 0 to 4. Taxonomy by M. Obeid and J. Ruscella (2021).
Roadmap to scale: start with role players and 360 video, then scale, add modalities and invest in R&D.
Roadmap to scale: start with role players and 360 video, then scale, add modalities and invest in R&D.
The guide: a framework for adopting immersive technology for experiential learning at scale.
The guide: a framework for adopting immersive technology for experiential learning at scale.
Choosing the right technology: “Show me, tell me” (3DoF) versus “Let me try” (6DoF).
Choosing the right technology: “Show me, tell me” (3DoF) versus “Let me try” (6DoF).
Designing with an Agile mindset and evaluating through the eyes of learners.
Designing with an Agile mindset and evaluating through the eyes of learners.

Results