Seat belt, infant care seat, air bag, and drunk driving laws, as well as enhanced vehicle safety features have had a positive impact on decreasing motor-vehicle fatalities.  However, in 2019 approximately 38,800 people lost their lives in the US as a result of automobile crashes and globally 1.35 million individuals were killed in 2018. TIM centers staffed by law enforcement, emergency response and tow service professionals are often called upon to respond to fatal/non-fatal crashes.  To increase response times TIM center personnel, receive ongoing training on how to respond to these events in a more efficient manner.  Typical training practices include in person instruction, conference attendance, and online training. Though each of these techniques provide valuable direction to participants, recent improvements in VR based technologies can offer additional training opportunities, particularly in the area of shared/simultaneous 3D VR- based remote learning.      

Investigators have developed a conceptual computer-based VR training system for TIM responders which allows users to work collaboratively as a team on a 3D simulated crash site in a virtual space to improve their incident response management skills.

Competitive Advantages

• More realistic response training for multiple TIM center personnel
• If developed/used effectively, shared VR training could reduce TIM training budgets
• VR techniques can supplement knowledge-based training by providing participants with real world collaborative situational based training experiences

Opportunity

The global healthcare simulation market was valued at $1.8 billion in 2018 and is expected to rise to $4 billion at a CARG of 14.2% by 2024.  Within this market, the VR-simulation sector is expected to receive increased interest as a result of technological advancements in computing and automation and resulting cost efficiencies.   

Rowan University is looking for a partner for further development and commercialization of this technology through a license. The inventor is available to collaborate with interested companies.