Auto Technicians Try Oculus Rift
Robert Bosch is an engineering company and one of biggest suppliers of automotive parts and equipment in the world. The company has started a nationwide tour with about 750 stops in order to train service technicians using virtual reality technology.
Around 8,000 to 10,000 mechanics are being trained on direct-injection and breaking technology via virtual reality. The technicians wear Oculus Rift head mounted displays (HMD) that enable them to check out and observe the insides of the engines virtually.
According to Stefan Jackowniak, the tour manager of Bosch Xperience, the headset system offers its users with an absolutely “immersive visual experience” enveloping their pupils in a rich video feed. The Bosch Xperience tour is allowing technicians a great chance to take 3D tours of the inner systems of engines. After observing the internal parts in three-dimensional tours, they will have a better inkling about their functions and how to fix those parts. Jackowniak stated that the many industries are now planning to train their technicians in virtual reality mode. He believes that the whole experience is going to feel as if you are in ‘The Matrix’. The technicians are in the vehicle, not unlike a molecule, with direct gas injection. The users will feel as if they are on a roller coaster ride moving along with the vehicle while in actual it will be only their minds that are bending.
Earlier in October 2014, a number of technicians from Shelby Township auto shops got to experience the Oculus Rift at the NAPA Auto Parts store on Van Dyke Avenue. After experiencing the virtual tour, the manager of NAPA store, Dan Yandura said that it was really cool to get to observe the things. Other towns such as Midland, Clawson and Clinton were also visited that week.
The 750 stops tour is launched by Bosch and coordinated by Fusion Marketing. The tour began in May and is supposed to end in November. The training is free and the company itself is billing the program. Martin Zimmerman, Bosch district service manager, said that their aim to provide technicians a better understanding of the internal system so that they are able to repair cars more easily and effectively.
For further details on Auto Technicians trying Oculus Rift, please visit the following websites:
http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2014/10/09/auto-technicians-try-oculus-rift-virtual-reality/16973649/
http://worldsum.com/2014/10/11/bosch-auto-technicians-training-on-oculus-rift/
http://fireworksimages.net/tag/oculus-rift-why-virtual-reality-is-surprisingly-not-s.html
