Advanced 3D Training 
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3D isn't just for gaming anymore, it's a very serious business training and collaboration tool. Retention and acceptance are very high compared to other training media. Training for hazardous environments such as nuclear, military, and certain types of construction come to mind first. But it doesn't stop there, 3D training is very helpful when it comes to training for jobs which require a high degree of human interaction such as a bank teller or a store clerk who can train to react to a wide variety of behaviors and requests. Repetitive training for activities which require practice in a safe and non-costly environment is another example. Training on the use of complex devices can be best done with interactive simulations easily constructed in a 3D environment. and it's not just training, MMO/3D can be very easily adapted for virtual meetings, company-wide meetings, collaborative environments to mention a few.
ARI Offers several platforms for the development and delivery of 3D content:
- Flash
- Silverlight
- A light-weight web-based virtual game engine
- A robust MMO based virtual game engine
- Meetings
Flash 3D
American Research Institute development tools work together to allow rapid development of content, alleviating bottlenecks and facilitating collaboration. Tools in the toolset give artists and designers a user-friendly way to correspond with the relational database. This promotes Instructional Designers and designers working together with subject matter experts to rapidly develop sophisticated learning. Flash is one of the most widely used applications for developing learning content and ARI is very accomplished at getting the most out of this powerful tool.
Silverlight 3D
Microsoft Silverlight is quickly becoming a preferred development tool for learning developers and ARI is at the forefront of this technology working directly with Microsoft to unleash it full potential. Whether your content is video rich or must be integrated with other Microsoft technology, Silverlight might be the best choice for your development needs and ARI is one of the longest and most accomplished learning developers using Silverlight.
Web-based 3D
3D technologies are advancing to the point where browser based deployment of learning content in a 3D rendering is both practical and affordable. The process of designing the learning interaction is different than with 2D in that the learner is immersed into a situational complex environment and is expected to interact with a variety of complexities within the environment.
The designers are tasked with creating scenarios with depth and background not typically found in traditional eLearning. A more evolved skill set is required to execute this “story-telling” brand of learning and envision the story unfolding with the goal of teaching the “player” as the story unfolds. The concept of “failing forward”, learning from making mistakes is introduced because these simulations don’t stop by testing learners and displaying a grade, they show the consequences of each error and impact areas of the brain that are not stimulated during observational learning modalities.
When learning is mission critical we recommend a method that engages the learner and personalizes the learning experience. Any of our scenario based techniques are far more beneficial than typical “information display” techniques for learning that is practice sensitive.
MMO/Game Engine-based 3D
The PowerU Virtual World supports the creation and delivery of 3D Interactive (3DI) learning, allowing people to interact naturally with a learning environment and learn by doing. 3DI uses virtual office spaces, multiple “players”, complex scenarios and game-like play to teach and reinforce desired on-the-job behavior. You can create your own environment, characters, scenarios and learning objectives using the PowerU Virtual World tools provided.
Along with the other technologies offered by ARI, such toolsets keep costs down by leveraging art assets, reducing the learning curve for designers, and reducing the reliance on development staff. It also allows designers to rapidly respond to world imbalances and deliver new experiences into the world required for deep, recurring play.
PowerU incorporates a full suite of tools that enable artists to create objects, and designers to develop and populate virtual worlds easier and faster when compared to other technologies. These tools have been developed and refined over years by some of the top game platform designers in the world.
No other virtual world technology suites have the comprehensive systems that PowerU offers. These systems include a character customization module that allows users an unprecedented ability to tailor character appearance—not to mention unique missions/tasks, effects, triggers, systems that use elements of real-world skill, and artificial intelligence libraries. Collectively, these assets give designers a series of modifiable components, allowing them to quickly construct unique learning worlds.