If your organization is interested in adopting a virtual reality (VR) training program, it’s important to consider what equipment you’ll need to purchase (e.g. VR headsets and an extended reality system) and how to order it. Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Check out our 4 factors to consider when purchasing VR training equipment:
- The Learning Environment
- Graphic Requirements Of The Final Product
- Cost Of Virtual Reality Headsets And An Extended Reality System
- Learners’ Ability To Operate Virtual Reality Equipment Properly
By considering these 4 factors, your organization will determine your capabilities and deliver a training program that’s scalable, accessible, and within budget.
Did you know that nearly ¼ of large organizations use virtual reality (VR) as part of their training program? Is your organization one of them?
If you’re looking to implement a VR training program at your organization, but are unsure about equipment and ordering processes, we’ve got you covered!
At Roundtable Learning, we’ve helped clients across industries successfully implement VR training at their organization. We know what equipment is required for VR training and work with our partners every step of the way to ensure their program meets their needs.
This article will explore common equipment needed for VR training, 4 factors to consider when purchasing VR training equipment, and how the ordering process for VR training equipment typically works.
What Equipment Is Needed For Virtual Reality Training?
VR for corporate training primarily involves two pieces of equipment: VR headsets and handheld controllers, and an extended reality system (XRS).
- Virtual Reality Headset and Handheld Controllers — One of the most essential elements to VR training is a headset, along with 2 controllers that come with the headset unit. With the headset and controllers, learners can look around their virtual environment and complete realistic interactions with objects and people.
By choosing the right headset, your organization will meet the needs of your learners, stay within budget, and make it convenient for your training team to deliver the training itself. Your organization should ask the following questions to determine the appropriate headsets for your VR training:
- Do you need tethered or untethered headsets?
- How many headsets will you need?
- Do your training activities have 3 degrees of freedom (Dof) or 6 DoF?
- Extended Reality System (XRS) — While it isn’t a requirement, we recommend integrating an XRS, like Mercury XRS, into your VR training program. By installing the XRS software on your headsets, your organization will be able to track your learners’ progress, assign activities at scale, and collect valuable reporting.
Your organization should ask the following questions to determine if an XRS would be
helpful for your training program:
- Do you need a convenient way to scale your VR training across your organization?
- How many learners will complete the VR training?
- What metrics will you track?
In addition to headsets and an XRS, your organization may want to consider alternative access options to VR training (e.g. computer, tablet, or mobile device) and the cost and ordering processes for these supplies.
4 Factors To Consider When Purchasing Virtual Reality Equipment
- The Learning Environment For Your Virtual Reality Training
When purchasing VR equipment, your organization needs to consider your learning environment. With the ideal learning environment, your organization will not only demonstrate the value you place on training, but also boost learners’ excitement and engagement with their training.
To create the ideal learning environment, your organization should ask yourself the following questions:
- Do we have a dedicated learning space?
- How big is our dedicated learning space?
- How many learners will be in this space?
- How can we make our learning space safe for VR movements?
We recommend creating a stimulating, welcoming environment with minimal distractions so learners can comfortably complete their training and retain information. Once you know your learning environment, you can make more informed decisions regarding equipment that’s conducive to learning.
- Graphic Requirements Of The Final Virtual Reality Training Product
Understanding graphic requirements of your final VR training product will help your organization determine what hardware is the best fit.
Before ordering VR equipment, your organization should answer the following questions:
- Does our training need high-end graphics?
- Does our training require a tethered option or will a mobile processor work?
The graphics of your VR activities indicate the level of demand needed from your system to display the experience. For example, high-end graphics typically require tethered headsets that operate only when connected to a PC or connected wirelessly with an adapter.
Before purchasing VR headsets, you should ensure the VR activities will be compatible with the headset by checking the headset’s system requirements (e.g. processing power and graphics card) or talking with your vendor.
- Cost Of Virtual Reality Headsets And An Extended Reality System
We recommend setting a training budget early on in your program’s planning. By doing so, your organization can make sure you buy VR equipment within budget at the quantity you need.
Your organization should ask the following questions:
- How much are we willing to pay for VR headsets and/or an XRS?
- How many VR headsets do we need to buy?
- Which headset best meets our learners’ needs and budget?
While VR headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 can go for $299, others like the Valve Index can exceed $999. In addition, an XRS like Mercury falls into the range of $10 – $30 per headset per month.
- Learners’ Ability To Operate Virtual Reality Equipment Properly
Understanding your learners’ technological fluency is critical when determining what VR equipment to buy. Some learners may be more well-versed with VR equipment than others, so it’s critical that your organization consider your learners’ varying levels of expertise with VR.
Your organization should ask the following questions:
- Is an out-of-box enterprise solution best for our learners?
- What level of technology fluency are our learners at?
- Do we need to supply instructions to learners so that they can operate their equipment properly?
An out-of-box solution is a product that works immediately without any special installation, configuration, or modification. This solution is best for organizations that need to provide their learners with a convenient, easy-to-use learning option that offers maximum functionality.
How Does Your Organization Order Virtual Reality Training Equipment?
The ordering process for VR training equipment is typically completed in one of two ways: order directly from manufacturers or order through your learning partner.
For corporate use, most procurement is done through a company like CDW that provides technology products and services for business, government, and education. Organizations can also order in bulk directly from some manufacturers, such as Pico or Oculus. When ordering from these organizations, you can expect a bulk price discount.
Another option to order VR training equipment is through your learning partner. In this case, your vendor will provide procurement services that would include the setup and testing of developed courseware before shipping to your location as a turnkey training solution.
Do You Have The Right Equipment For Your Virtual Reality Training?
This article has reviewed what equipment is required for VR training, as well as the factors and ordering processes your organization should expect to complete. We hope that by reading this article, you’re more confident moving forward with your VR training.
Ready to get started designing your custom VR training program? Explore what a partnership with Roundtable Learning looks like or book an immersive learning demo today!