A study of the effects of virtual reality on the retention of training
Carl R. Jacquet · Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research · 2002
Today's faster processors, powerful graphics boards, and less-expensive head-mounted displays have made virtual reality (VR) a possible replacement for PC-based desktop simulation. Do virtual reality systems using head-mounted displays offer training advantages to systems using regular, non-immersive interfaces? Specifically, does a virtual reality training system increase retention of the trained task, versus a desktop simulation system? The retention of tasks learned in a virtual reality training environment by 16 subjects was studied in comparison to 16 subjects in a desktop simulation environment in the context of a part-task, maintenance training system. Measures of training retention included time to complete the task and procedural errors observed. Although the findings indicate that the difference found between the experimental groups was not statistically significant, the foundation has been laid for further study of the effects of the increased contextual cues present in virtual reality environments.