Lincoln Electric has added a new product to its education lineup. The Voyage Arc Virtual Reality Welding Headset is an interactive, immersive classroom platform that introduces students to welding fundamentals.
The tool is designed to spark interest in careers involving welding by enabling tech-savvy students to learn in a virtual setting that many of them already enjoy in real life – an amusement park.
In addition to the immersive experience, the Voyage Arc headset incorporates video gaming elements to keep the student motivated. As the learner masters each lesson, they are rewarded with “Spark” points they can use to customize their helmets. As they use the Voyage Arc all-in-one headset, students leave the distractions of the classroom behind and are transported to a realistic, virtual amusement park where they are tasked with “welding” park equipment such as a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, sky drop ride or bumper car before earning a virtual ride.
“Lincoln Electric is committed to ensuring that as experienced welders retire, the next generation is ready and qualified to take their place,” said Denise Sirochman, product manager, Lincoln Electric. “The Voyage Arc headset enables us to reach up-and-coming generations of learners and get them excited about careers in welding by letting them experience it for themselves in a safe, fun and engaging way.”
Welding in Virtual Reality
Each student takes a self-guided tour through the amusement park by following narration and interactive instructions, stopping along the way to take 10 individual lessons. With visual cues and repetitive knowledge checks, students are introduced to the common welding techniques of GMAW and SMAW and learn critical skills such as travel speed, position and contact tip to work distance. The student practices each technique and then uses their new skills to repair familiar rides.
The self-paced, microlearning lessons are delivered in bite-sized bursts and enable students to save their progress and pick up where they left off. The lessons can be individually selected and repeated as needed.
Lincoln Electric VR Headset.
Topics covered include:
Introduction to safety and elements of PPE
Learning about common joints
Introduction to GMAW
Introduction to SMAW
The Voyage Arc VR Career Exploration Tool is classroom-ready and can be incorporated into existing lesson plans or used as the foundation for new curricula. The optional LAN system and software enables instructors, who do not need to be proficient in welding themselves, to monitor and view student scores, skills comprehension and completed lessons, and track the entire class’s progress with a simple dashboard.
Each headset features comfortable, wipe-clean facial padding, a focal adjustment wheel to compensate for different vision requirements, and a brightness adjustment to suit individual requirements. Students can even wear eyeglasses with the headset.
IRONPROS Perspective
Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are shaking up the way construction professionals receive on-the-job training. This form of interactive learning is less costly and safer, compared to facing hazards or dangers in the field, manufacturing floor or construction site. It turns out that virtual reality also has a place in welding, based on this successful product launch by Lincoln Electric.
With many businesses in the construction industry experiencing labor shortages, these creative efforts can go a long way in attracting young professionals who are looking for exciting career options. The gamification approach to classic welding training programs is also unique in this product and could help students pick up complex work concepts and welding techniques faster.
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