Future Scope of Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality for an Immersive E-learning Experience

The technological advancements in corporate training result in a workforce which is more skilled and productive than ever before. With a change in ways the employees learn and apply knowledge, the scope of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality for corporate training is also increasing. Today, the immense potential of both these technologies have transformed the entire e-learning experience for corporate learners. AR is the enhanced version of reality created using innovative technology to provide digital information on an image of some object.

AR technology embeds with mobile learning apps accessible on smartphones and tablets. AR-based mobile apps use the phone’s camera to scan any product and provide a layer of information, including text and images. VR  defines the use of computer technology to create a simulated learning environment. It transposes the users from the real world to a virtual environment through visors or goggles, where they can move or look in any direction, as of they were physically there.

VR & AR will remain the common buzzwords in the year 2019 and beyond. An example of VR is Google Cardboard which allows the users to turn on their smartphones into a VR headset using cardboard viewer. On the other hand, the example of AR technology is smart glass used in hospitals which allows surgeons to view x-ray from varied angles, examine patient’s bones and other details. As per the latest report by marketresearch.com, the adoption of VR products was valued at $1.37 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $33.9 billion by 2022. On the other hand, the overall AR market was valued at $2.35 billion in 2015 and expected to increase to $117.4 billion by the year 2022. [Source: https://www.marketresearch.com/MarketsandMarkets-v3719/Augmented-Reality-Virtual-Device-Type-10086392/]

Engage Modern Workforce through AR and VR

The ever-evolving trends of using smartphones and tablets will encourage implementation of AR and VR technologies, which is expected to grow for enterprise applications such as game-based learning, sales training, product marketing, and more. Workforce engagement is another crucial aspect associated with an organization's success in terms of productivity and profitability. As per the research, Gallup found that 87% of the global personnel is either indifferent or disengaged with their organizations- costing billion dollars annually. [Source: https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/191765/organizations-going-above-beyond-engage-employees.aspx]. Therefore, VR/AR technology serves as a viable solution which perfectly fits into these efforts. For instance, gamified e-learning experience uses VR technology to instruct an employee during an onboarding program. Or safety training content is designed which uses AR to guide learners with the safety instructions at the workplace or manufacturing unit.

As per the statistics, the AR and VR market is expected to reach 209.2 million US dollars by the year 2022.

Figure 1: Forecast AR and VR Market Size

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/591181/global-augmented-virtual-reality-market-size/

The above graph gives a clear picture of the potential of AR/VR in today’s digital era. Using AR and VR technologies help to deliver training experiences- engaging, relevant, and measurable.

Leveraging Custom E-learning Content Delivery through Personalized Mobile Devices

Corporate learners from all over the world are increasingly engaging with mobile platforms to collaborate with peers, access custom online learning content, and personalize their training experiences. Always-accessible smartphones and tablets provide learners with a new ecosystem of knowledge, expertise, and skills. Most of the learning and development professionals leverage the opportunity to use mobile devices as learning tools to train the workforce-anytime and anywhere. 

As mobile learning reaches beyond the four walls of the classroom, learners gain the flexibility to access training courses at their own pace of time and convenience. There are ample advantages of mobile-based custom learning for enterprises, both big and small, especially to boost learner engagement and improve knowledge retention. As per a research study by Gallup, 71% of millennials say they interact more with mobile learning than L&D activities imparted through a desktop or formal methods. [Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/181289/majority-employees-not-engaged-despite-gains-2014.aspx]. Outlined below are some of the essentials for delivering successful mobile-based custom e-learning solutions:

• Leveraging mobile-empowered training content Training content that aligns with diverse business goals through a mobile initiative drives organizational success. It is important that the training curriculum supports activities including active forms of learning (creating and collating data) and passive forms of integration (reading information and watching videos). The mobile-enabled courses in the form of interactive videos, text, audio, or any other modality, are delivered as per the individual learning styles and preferences.

• Preparing trainers effectivelyThe effectiveness of mobile learning is also dependent on the quality of the trainers involved. Technological innovations help to empower learners’ performances by changing the ways training is delivered to them. This kind of development is quite challenging as learners not only acquire new skills but also unlearn about unconscious beliefs related to learning and development. As a result, the overall training strategy becomes more reliable for educators in obtaining relevant knowledge and expertise.

• Supporting self-paced learningIn today’s scenario, there are two significant aspects of successful corporate training. One, to deliver personalized education as per the pertinent needs of all and two, learning beyond an enterprise setting, including the external workforce. Therefore, custom mobile learning apps are designed to deliver easy to access and quick to digest content in the form of mini-games, quizzes, videos, infographics, and more. As a result, learners can access information at the point of need, thereby ensuring better learner collaboration, more engagement, and optimal workplace performance.

Going mobile is an effective way to impart learning, specifically to globally dispersed audiences. So, delivery of custom e-learning content through mobile devices is not just for learning on the go but being able to undergo training anytime and anywhere- at the office, at the factory floor, or home.