The Future Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality Simulations on the Suburban Training Experience of Firefighters in Westchester, NY

Abstract

This paper describes a prototype of a firefighter training platform utilizing an immersive virtual reality environment. Advances in technology, with the adoption of virtual reality (VR) systems for training purposes, may provide learners with educational environments with life-like simulation interfaces. A prototype was created to simulate interactions a firefighter might experience in a fully immersive environment. The prototype was used to educate firefighters on the cocncept and survey them for feedback on the proposed learning environment. To achieve a fully immersive virtual reality, visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory and gustatory feedback was used. It was found that a fully immersive virtual reality environment would meet the needs of a successful multimedia design as regards cognition and motivation.