ABSTRACT
Reliable human task performance is important to the safe and seamless operation of industry, ranging from critical high-consequence industries like health care and aviation to productivity in classic manufacturing industries. Training has been shown to improve the reliability and productivity of human operators in both cognitive and psychomotor tasks in complex systems. Conventional training methods like classroom and on-the-job training have inherent limitations, ranging from the lack of exposure to critical scenarios to costs involved in training implementation. With advances in computer technology there has been a thrust to develop technology-based training simulators. Virtual reality (VR) technology took these initial forays to the next level as it allows for superior graphic realism and interactivity. Th is chapter discusses the application of virtual reality to training to improve human operator skills and reduce error in a variety of scenarios. An overview of factors infl uencing the design of VR training systems and an introduction to available technology are provided. In addition, a case study outlines the process for eff ective modeling of tasks for design and development of VR training simulators.
