Transcript
From a young age I've always been interested in video games. I had some friends who had been on computers since they were probably in elementary school.
My major was biochemistry. I did a minor in computer science before doing the Masters in Educational Technology.
My name is Adam Ashton. I'm a technical training specialist for multi-modal integrated technical training at Transport Canada.
We're a small team of five people. Our team trains the inspectors at Transport Canada. So all the different modes: rail, aviation, marine, transportation of dangerous goods, Navigation Protection Program, motor vehicle safety.
Training across the five regions has always been a challenge because of the travel required for people to be in the same space.
Over the last two and a half years or so, we've been looking into the uses of virtual reality as a new way to offer training, virtual reality, and some of these telepresence technologies allow us to feel more like we're in the same room, like we're in the same space as people. And this gives them an opportunity to put into practice in a way that's safe. They can repeat as many times as they want to. They're not using up an instructor's time. They're not slowing down the class if they feel they need to start over, try again.
When you're, if you think about times you've taken a classroom course or e-learning, you're listening to the teacher, maybe looking at your phone, you've got your computer next to you for taking notes, but you're also checking your email, you're getting notifications popping up. And so you're not completely dedicating your attention to the teacher. You might be talking to the person next to you.
With VR, you have 100% focus, your vision is occluded. You're in this virtual world. Oftentimes by yourself. You're focused on your task at hand 100%. And that focus allows you to learn more quickly and to also really acquire that skill in a way that you can't theoretically in a classroom or by e-learning.
We're starting to look into augmented and mixed reality. The glass in front of them has holograms projected onto it. They could have arrows or have things circled. Another technology we're looking at is using 360 cameras. The idea is that someone who could possibly wear this camera on their shoulder and broadcast it to people who are across the country wearing a VR headset and they would be able to look in any direction.
I find myself extremely fortunate to have found this job. This has allowed me to take a lot of the skills that I had, my familiarity with technology, my passion for education and my curiosity and my willingness to innovate. Mesh them together and create a new job. And it's been a dream.
Transport Canada really does support innovation.