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Virtual Reality




https://www.facebook.com/UNDHelicopters/videos/829813734030530/UzpfSTI5NDAzMzk4OjEwMTAzNTE3Mjc0NTYwNjc1/?sfns=mo


Yesterday, I had a discussion at work with Marie about digital citizenship and our children.  Marie’s son is 12 and my youngest sons are 22.  I realized the amazing technological changes that have occurred in 10 short years.  10 years ago my family had one central computer with a large hard drive and monitor in the family room that we all shared.  My youngest sons, in 6th grade, did not have a cell phone and no one in the family knew what an iPad was since the first iPad was not released until 2010.

Last night, while still contemplating all the technological changes we have experienced, I saw the above post from UND Helicopters.  My son, Matt is a helicopter pilot and a flight instructor for UND.  His chief flight instructor, Wes had just returned from Helicopter Association International Heli Expo 2019 in Atlanta.  I always love watching these videos because they give me a window into Matt’s world.  As usual, I was fascinated by the video and paid extra attention to the Robinson aircraft portion because Matt flies the Robinson R44.  What I didn’t expect to happen was the interview at 3 minutes 38 seconds. Wes interviewed an employee from VRM Switzerland, a simulation company.  VRM Switzerland debuted a virtual reality combined motion simulator.  The employee said that VRM trained 6 student pilots, each of whom had never flown in a helicopter before the VRM training. After the simulator, the students took real-life flight lessons.  As a result of their virtual reality training, they were able to take off and hover in a helicopter without the aid of an instructor, and transfer their knowledge from the simulator to real life.

Clearly,  human thought and ingenuity have the power to change lives.  Technology will transform the way we learn and interact in our world. I will be fascinated to see how virtual reality will assist us in learning other complex concepts.  Ten years from now, I wonder if Marie’s son will ponder how he ever existed with just his iPhone, laptop and cell phone at the age of 12. I am positive he will.





















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