Abhishek Padhee

Enhancing Situational Awareness through Virtual Training Scenarios

The modern era, marked by rapid technological advancements, offers unprecedented opportunities to reshape how we interact with and understand our environments. This project delves into the potential of virtual training scenarios to bolster situational awareness, particularly in moderate to high-risk settings such as manufacturing plants, restaurants, and retail spaces.

The journey began with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the intricate dynamics of situational awareness. Utilizing tools like Unity, the project developed a prototype that simulates real-world scenarios, challenging users to navigate them while maintaining optimal situational awareness. Central to this endeavor were the four pillars: attention, memory, spatial awareness, and decision-making.

Two distinct virtual environments were crafted: a bustling kitchen and a warehouse with heavy crate lifting tasks. Both settings were designed to test and train users' situational awareness skills, with feedback mechanisms in place to guide and improve performance. The metacognitive effort meter, a novel feature, gauges users' cognitive load, offering real-time insights into their decision-making processes.

The project's heart lies in its user-centric approach. Feedback from diverse participants, including those from high-risk professions, was instrumental in refining the virtual scenarios. Their experiences, challenges, and insights were invaluable, ensuring the prototype's relevance and effectiveness.

In essence, this endeavor bridges the gap between virtual training and real-world application, harnessing the power of technology to enhance situational awareness. It stands as a testament to the potential of virtual training scenarios in reshaping training methodologies, ensuring safer and more aware work environments, and redefining the boundaries of immersive learning experiences.