Human-Centric VR Training: A Collaborative Workshop at Ateş Wind Power
On Thursday, March 27th, TNO visited the Ateş Wind Power factory in Turkey. Ateş Wind Power is developing a Virtual Reality (VR) application to provide welding training and training for using a manlift (working at heights). To make the VR applications more successful, they strived to make the procedure more human-centric and involve the end-users, or operators, in the development process through a co-creation workshop. This is one of the solution directions addressed in the SEISMEC project. TNO, drawing on its experience with similar workshops, supported Ateş by providing guidance during both the preparation and execution phases.
Bringing Together Diverse Perspectives
A diverse group of stakeholders participated in the workshop. The session was organised and facilitated by two researchers from TNO in collaboration with two R&D engineers from Ateş, representing the SEISMEC project team. In addition to the organisers, the workshop was attended by two additional R&D engineers, one Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) specialist, one welding engineer, three operators, and two inspectors, bringing the total number of participants to 13.
Workshop Highlights
The three-hour workshop was structured into several key components. It began with an introduction to the SEISMEC project, presented by the Ateş project members. This was followed by a demonstration of the VR welding training application, developed specifically for the workshop. As the first participant performed with the demo, the remaining attendees were invited to try the application using one of the two available goggles.
Following, a brief explanation was provided on how scenarios can be created within a VR training environment. Participants were then divided into two groups to engage in a scenario development exercise focused on the welding process. Each group was presented with a proposed workflow and asked to address four key questions:
(1) Is the workflow complete?
(2) What potential errors could occur during the process?
(3) What information do operators need to avoid these errors?
(4) How should this information be presented within the VR training?
Group 1 and Group 2 had different approaches, with Group 2 structuring the four goals using colored Post-it papers. A short break followed, and then the two groups merged for the second exercise, namely the scenario of using the manlift. After completing the exercise, participants were asked to fill in an evaluation questionnaire and were given a small gift from Holland to thank them for their participation.
What We Learned & Looking Ahead
Input from participants was gathered using colour-coded Post-its, which could be placed on posters corresponding to the three key topics: VR, Welding, and Manlift. These posters were printed and displayed on the wall.
Participants provided valuable insights into the VR application, including feedback on the training environment’s realism, the controls’ functionality, and the clarity of task instructions. For the welding module, input included missing workflow steps, potential errors, and common operator mistakes. This feedback contributed directly to enhancing the completeness and relevance of the training content. Similar input was gathered for the manlift module, with additions such as specific safety protocols and checklists. Inspectors, in particular, were able to pinpoint common mistakes and suggest areas where VR training should emphasise, for instance, the frequent issue of overloading the manlift due to exceeding weight limits.
Participants also proposed enhancements to the user experience within the VR environment, such as using visual cues (e.g., a red line to indicate errors) and haptic feedback (e.g., vibrations when holding objects).
All the participants’ evaluation results were positive. All participants appreciated being involved in the development process and felt their input was valued. Everyone reported that they were able to contribute meaningful feedback during the workshop and expressed interest in testing the final VR application. The majority of participants indicated VR as their preferred training method, with only one opting for a screen or tablet-based approach. Furthermore, all attendees were optimistic about the use of VR training in the future, with various responses regarding the preferred experience level and activity (welding or manlift). All agreed that VR is beneficial for workplace safety and efficiency.
