Prepared for the future with virtual and augmented reality training

Virtual and augmented reality technologies were showcased during Lethbridge College’s surRENDER event in April 2019.LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE/SUPPLIED

It’s one thing to imagine what your dream home will be like based on drawings or architectural plans, but thanks to virtual reality (VR), dreamers can now do virtual walk-throughs before the first shovel hits the ground. “In the virtual world, you can do it without building a thing,” says Cherie Reitzel, an interior design technology instructor at Lethbridge College in Alberta. “You can become immersed in any design conceivable, seeing and feeling the environment both physically and psychologically. You can even see what the sunlight looks like coming through a window.”

It isn’t just in architecture and design that VR and its cousin augmented reality (AR) are having an impact, says college instructor Mike McCready. VR and AR are revolutionizing everything from safety training to health care, which explains why the college is launching two new programs this fall, including a two-year diploma in Architectural Animation Technology and a one-year certificate in Virtual and Augmented Reality. “There’s a huge demand for this kind of technology from industry, and very few opportunities for students to learn about it in a formal training environment,” he says, adding that companies he has consulted with say they would like the option of hiring local talent instead of outsourcing their needs internationally. “These programs, which were designed in consultation with industry and are unique to Alberta, will help fill the gap.”

Students will hit the deck running. “They are going to be very studio-centric programs with participants working in state-of-the-art labs with industry partners from the get-go on projects ranging from pain management in health care to creating training simulations for those working in high-risk environments,” he says.

There’s a huge demand for this kind of technology from industry, and very few opportunities for students to learn about it in a formal training environment. These programs, which were designed in consultation with industry and are unique to Alberta, will help fill the gap.
— Mike McCready, President of the VR/AR Association chapter in Alberta

Lethbridge College is uniquely qualified to offer the new programs. It hosted the world’s first full-day VR/AR conference to be held entirely in VR that attracted participants from more than 80 cities, as well as a successful follow-up conference this year. Mr. McCready is president of the VR/AR Association chapter in Alberta.

One of the many virtues of VR and AR is the way in which they enhance sustainability. “VR allows people from around the world to feel like they are in the same room, but without having to travel to do it, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of travel,” he says. It’s also going to be an engine for economic prosperity and job creation. According to the International Data Corporation, global spending on VR and AR is expected to top $-20 billion (U.S.) in 2019, and grow at an annualized rate of nearly 70 per cent through 2022.

“VR and AR are not just fads, and they’re not just about gaming,” says Mr. McCready. “They can reduce costs, enhance safety and improve quality of life. And for those reasons, we at Lethbridge College are committed to helping this industry succeed.”

Produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation.