VIRTUAL REALITY STRESS TRAINING PREPARES POLICE FOR HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS
Virtual reality is also providing new opportunities in police training. In the Shotpros project, psychology-based training scenarios are being developed in order to improve decision-making and action-taking behaviours while under stress. The aim is to avoid violence and collateral damage in high-risk situations.
VIRTUAL REALITY INNOVATION FACTOR
Traditional training focuses on aspects such as being able to run fast and to use weapons skillfully. However, stress management and strategy are called for first and foremost in high-risk situations. Stress limits perception and thus the ability to make the right decisions and act accordingly.
PROJECT PARTNER RAÔUL OUDEJANS
Among the research partners, is also the team from the Center for Technology Experience at the Austrian Institute for Technology (AIT). Its task is to examine the triggers, management and regulation of stress and emotions within virtual realities – and how they are measured. AIT project team member Sebastian Egger-Lampl explains that the training principles are based on psychological research dealing with decision-making and its underlying influences. Project partners involved in this part are the experts led by Raôul Oudejans, associate professor at the Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and at the Faculty of Sports and Nutrition, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. They also provide expertise in the training to help improve decision-making under stress.
TRAINING MATERIAL
The training material is then created based on these findings. These consist of:
- software with training scenarios in virtual reality;
- a training plan that combines real training with virtual reality training;
- project outcomes, which will be circulated as best practice in a Europe-wide virtual reality training network.
See the full story here; https://innovationorigins.com/virtual-reality-stress-training-prepares-police-for-high-risk-situations/