Author: AITC

In November last year, AITC Inc. was an exhibitor at I/ITSEC 2018—the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training event hosted by the United States Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) —right here in Orlando, Florida.

One of the technology solutions we showcased was an innovative way that virtual reality (VR) has become more mobile—whether you’re inside or outside, but not lacking any power or capabilities.

VR: Beyond the World of Gaming and Into the Workplace and Classroom

VR technology has been linked with gaming for years, but what if you can take the fun of VR to empower people in the classroom or the workplace? Or, what if VR enabled you to take the classroom or workplace with you?

VR in the workplace and the classroom is becoming increasingly commonplace in several industries, helping users to become more engaged with their work. And let’s face it—trainings sometimes can be a little dull—or, at the very least, hard to take what’s written down on a page to incorporate it into the real world.

With traditional training methods, it can be challenging to engage new employees with pertinent information about their jobs and their companies. It can also be time-consuming to train someone on something that requires a lot of hands-on time and experience without possibly disrupting ongoing business operations.

HP’s VR Z Backpack

In 2017, HP introduced the Z Backpack—a more professional way to use VR. For training and simulation, this VR system can make work more alive and real in ways that traditional training programs cannot. What’s unique about this system is that it’s a sophisticated and powerful computer that you can take with you—but it’s not a laptop.

The Z Backpack is a wearable PC with hot swappable batteries—all without any cumbersome cords getting in your way. With a VR headset and two wireless controllers, you can immerse yourself in whatever simulation or training you desire.

When you’re inside, you can dock the system on your desk and wirelessly connect the PC to a desktop screen. If you need to move around or take it outside, you snap the PC to the backpack, put the backpack on, and you’re all set to go.

There are endless simulation and training possibilities with the HP VR Backpack, and that includes military capabilities.

DiSTI & HP – Creating Customized Virtual Training Solutions

In April 2018, Orlando-based software and training solutions firm, DiSTI, formed a partnership with HP as DiSTI’s hardware partner to develop more enterprise-level training solutions. At I/ITSEC, AITC showcased the power and freedom of HP’s Z Backpack along with DiSTI’s training platform, VE Studio. The virtual training showcased at I/ITSEC was created for the U.S. Army Air National Guard.

At I/ITSEC AITC showed how VE Studio created a training curriculum for a Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT) to provide over 115 maintenance procedures used to maintain the EC-145 (commercial variant)/UH-172 (military variant) helicopter systems.

“The VE Studio tool/platform was used to develop the training program in its final rendered form and integrated with the HP backpack to provide an untethered training/demonstration experience at I/ITSEC.  VE Studio has been developing a host of training solutions for military and civilian programs around the world – such as helicopters, lawn equipment, tanks, aircraft, and gas turbines and AITC sees this technology as expanding training capabilities and efficiencies in many areas and markets,” says David Balleweg, AITC’s Director Sales and Marketing.

For the U.S. Army Air National Guard, DiSTI was able to quickly create and deliver a training program for half the cost of traditional VMT programs. They helped saved the government an estimated $4 million. In addition to saving time and money, DiSTI’s program helped to make soldiers ready to work on a helicopter without causing any disruptions that come with having to use an actual helicopter for training. DiSTI’s virtual training program also allows for multiple students to work simultaneously as a team in a VR vignette along with an instructor.

“VR and the Z Backpack are an environmental/experiential extension of the learning we create – allowing students freedom of movement within a virtual world so they can interact with the equipment much as they would in real life.  These training solutions can be created for enterprise-level customers with more intricate and complicated training needs or for smaller programs, it depends on the training need and the desired outcome,” says Kevin Mikalsen, DiSTI’s Director of Global Marketing.

As a systems integrator, AITC can leverage programs like VE Studio to help customers with their training needs—whether a customer would want to create their own training application or to create one for customers.  This is one way that AITC can create an end-to-end IT solution that best fits a customer’s needs.

For more information about this technology, please contact Lydia Perez in our sales department at sales@aitcinc.com.

At I/ITSEC 2018, the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training event hosted by the United States Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), AITC showcased audio-visual integration capabilities at their exhibit. Teaming with their technology partner, AVI-SPL, a Tampa, FL-based company that provides collaboration and audio-visual solutions for organizations worldwide, AITC wanted to demonstrate a new technology solution, offering more intelligence and usability for team collaborations.

A Collaboration Space with Total Flexibility

If you had walked into the booth, you would have been able to experience the cutting-edge technology in our huddle lounge, a collaboration space that can accommodate a workgroup of up to six people.

The lounge was outfitted with a Cisco room kit, which enabled the demonstration computer to beam his screen to a TV screen – so no cords necessary. The lounge showcased how collaboration could happen not only within the same space, but also remotely. Whether you have a desktop computer, a smartphone, or a laptop, you could be a part of a meeting seamlessly. And this sort of technology could make facilitating training a whole lot easier and accessible.

“It’s not just about the high-end simulation facility, it’s about everyday learning continuing,” explained Steve White, Federal Business Development Manager for AVI-SPL.

How AITC and AVI-SPL Work Together

Working together, AITC and AVI-SPL want to help the U.S. government achieve their identified top two priorities for the federal workforce—to enable collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

“What AITC is able to do is to bring people together to create solutions for the government,” says Lydia Perez, sales operations manager at AITC. AITC can create bundled services and solutions to make it easier for the government and other customers to purchase.

What’s even more helpful and cost-effective is that by creating these bundled solutions, upgrading and maintaining equipment can be a seamless, unified process instead of in a piecemeal way. Whatever kind of IT system you have, when you’re ready to upgrade, these IT solutions can be integrated into yours. Not only can you have the latest software and hardware, but you can have them at a competitive price—saving you overhead costs.

But what if you’re not interested in purchasing equipment and software? We can provide something akin to software as a service (SaaS). It’s what White calls “facilities as a service”, which allows you to save capital expenditures and use operational expenditures. You don’t have to be responsible for servicing or maintaining the software and equipment. But if you want to own it after the service contract is up, that’s also an option.

“We’re putting you on that path to consistency. It’s all about making it standardized, making it easy to acquire, easy to specify, and streamline the acquisition process,” says Perez.

Some of the Available Technologies for Collaboration and Training

So what kind of technology could be available in a smart space? White used the example of a conference room being able to recognize employees by facial recognition, greeting them and asking if they’d like to use the audio conference or by starting the audio conference immediately.

The conference room could also be able to count how many participants are in a room and start suggesting optimized usage (e.g., if there are larger conference rooms being used only by a small number of people).

One concern about having more remote capabilities for training and collaboration could be about security and confidentiality.   Our team can design and configure to any specialized classification, whether it’s secret, top-secret, JWICS, NIPRNet, SIPRNet, etc.

You could have a monitor-controlled video wall with as many LED screens as you might need. At I/ITSEC, AITC showcased a 2’ x2’ knowledge wall, but our capabilities can go far beyond that number of screens.

Video Link Services

If you’re seeking video link services, we also offer two types. One is a ReadyCam studio, which is used by national cable channels such as MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, and others for interviews. These transmissions don’t require satlink trucks—just an internet connection and a 10’ by 14’ sized room. This media room give a professional, polished look for one person and can be remotely operated.

And one way this technology can be used in the government is if a leader wants to professionally, effectively, and quickly communicate a message within an organization. This live video could be fed into anywhere there’s a screen—desktops, laptops, cellphones, breakrooms and conference rooms.

Another way to use video link services is to capture content. If your desire is to make a training more educational and engaging, or you simply want to capture what a subject matter expert has to say on a topic, we can help with the post-production facilities, as well as with editing and graphics.

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As a systems integrator, AITC wants to bring end-to-end IT solutions to governmental agencies as well as commercial organizations. To learn more about how we can help your organization facilitate collaboration and training, please contact Lydia Perez in our sales department at sales@aitcinc.com.