EDSI is thrilled to announce a new virtual reality tool now available to jobseekers participating in pre-employment workshops in three offices in the Philadelphia, PA area. The idea came about when a company executive saw a demonstration of the technology on a Vice News YouTube video, and that started the ball rolling. The video highlighted tasks that were designed to teach prison inmates life skills so that they could return to the community after serving 20+ year terms. Through virtual reality, it has been proven that sometimes it’s easier to learn how to do things like use a grocery self-checkout kiosk or operate a smartphone, for example.
Now, this same virtual reality technology is being used by EDSI to help jobseekers with interviewing skills and conflict de-escalation scenarios. This “high-tech realism,” also known as a Full Immersion Training System, was produced by NSENA and is comprised of a WiFi-connected laptop computer and two towers that link to a headset and joy sticks that the user can operate to realistically gain or improve life skills. An Instructor simultaneously controls the presentation with responses as the client explores the program.
Reactions have been very enthusiastic among our users (Non-custodial parents, WIOA and EARN participants) being offered the opportunity to use the virtual reality technology as part of EDSI’s workforce development programs. They love being able to leave the normalcy and predictability of the classroom and get outside their comfort zone with this unique technology. This hands-on experience is realistic, yet individualized, and each client has their own personal interaction. Here’s what one jobseeker, Dominic Cryor, had to say about the experience: