The new frontiers of corporate training
When we talk about virtual reality, the first thought goes to pc and console games and teenage gamers engaged in activities that, for most adults, are a waste of time. In reality, gaming and augmented reality have more fields of application than we think: from museums to schools to their use in multinational corporations. In fact, what is emerging is the tendency to use this kind of technology even in complex and dynamic contexts, such as companies. The idea is to use augmented reality to work on real reality by improving it, eliminating its critical points and negative aspects. This is somewhat the philosophy behind the trend, which has emerged especially in recent years, of using gamification and virtual reality by applying it to team building activities.
Team building activities are, within human resources, a whole series of practices aimed at building a solid and cohesive group through strengthening ties within the group. The goal is not only to create stronger bonds between people working together within the same company or within the same team to make collaboration easier and more productive, but also to bring about a relationship between employee and company through the creation of a sense of identity. In this way, it will be easier to develop a more fruitful collaboration between the parties.
Although this is primarily a playful activity aimed at easing tensions and problems within the group, it requirescareful preparation. The basis is the creation of an atmosphere of interaction and participation among colleagues. The aim is to trigger, within the game, virtuous behaviors aimed at greater cooperation, cohesion and interaction among employees.
The ultimate goal is to use the behaviors and techniques learned within the game in real-world contexts as well, particularly within office dynamics.
There are different types of team building activities. The more traditional ones involve sports activities of various kinds, from bootcamp to scavenger hunts to go-karting, musical activities, and theater. However, recently, companies have begun to understand the potential related to new technologies and, in particular, augmented reality and virtual gaming.
The gaming and VR industries have been able to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the growing demand from companies, whose goal is to provide employees with engaging and innovative team-building experiences that are capable of enhancing staff soft skills .
In particular, the skills that can be acquired through augmented reality are diverse, covering different levels. Thanks to augmented reality, it is possible to develop and stimulate creativity, improve the relationship between employees through the enhancement of interpersonal skills, develop individual talents, and improve management and managerial skills, especially in relation to crisis management.
As mentioned above, there is no shortage of proposals for providing unique and exciting team building experiences involving different technologies and games, ranging from single player to multiplayer. Among the most interesting proposals are, for example, professional dynamic driving simulators . These are systems that use professional equipment that guarantee maximum performance and perfectly replicate the sensations of professional driving, from the care of the totally lifelike settings to the fatigue while driving.
Another interesting experience involves augmented reality applied to static flight simulators , thanks to which it is possible to create immersive aerial battlefields and flight simulations with totally realistic and detailed details.
Flight simulators, but that's not all. It is also possible, for example, to go back in time to make the moon landing, or, following one of the latest trends of the moment, to involve one's team in an escape by solving riddles and puzzles following the now famous format of "escape rooms." Multiplayer games, but also other activities.
Among the latest innovations in technology is the introduction of multi-game stations capable of engaging multiple players simultaneously. The mechanism is simple: standing up, you equip yourself with 3D viewers to play and the fun begins. Through this type of experience it is possible, among other things, to learn through educational platforms and undergo specific training activities.
The proposals that augmented reality offers in the area of team building activities are diverse, and they represent the future of the AR experience aimed at business services. This is a young and dynamic trend that I am sure we will hear more about.