VR FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING
The SimSafe virtual reality application provides a realistic, immersive, yet safe training environment that allows users young or old to extinguish common household fires using proper techniques. Within the VR environment, users are trained to deploy the tried and true P.A.S.S. (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) technique while wearing a VIVE PRO VR headset and controllers. Once the training is complete, users are tasked with extinguishing a simulated fire on their own.
As the user extinguishes the fire on a stovetop or in a trash can, the app tracks: the user’s motions, the time it takes them to extinguish the fire, and even calculates how much of the extinguisher they used to put the fire out. All of the data is calculated to provide the user with an overall score. The completion of the project resulted in a comprehensive training experience that can be purchased and shipped to fire departments, schools, and office buildings across the country!
Client
- Gravity Jack
- The Spokane Valley Fire Department
Platforms
- VIVE Pro
- Unity
SERVICES
Virtual Reality
Complete immersion in a custom digital environment
Game Development
End-to-end gaming solutions that follow the latest trends and best practices
Custom Software
Code development specific to the project’s needs
3D Development
Dynamic 3D artwork that provides a highly realistic experience
Custom Animations
Movements and actions that bring 3D artwork to life
Digital Production
A dedicated project manager that brings consistent quality and visibility to the project
THE GRAVITY JACK PROCESS
Gravity Jack had the privilege of taking a field trip to the Spokane Valley Fire Department to actually perform the P.A.S.S. technique on actual fire! This experience definitely provided a great amount onf inspiration for the project’s development.
TIMELINE STAGES
USER STORIES
Puts us in the shoes of a potential user to make informed decisions about the functionality and flow of the project.
WIREFRAMES
The blueprints of a project that put the design and development teams on the same page prior the development
UI DESIGN
Integrating branding, style guides, and more to give the project cohesive look and feel
DEVELOPMENT
Development begins with the architecture of the project with integration tests help verify that all software is written based ont the project requirements
QUALITY ASSURANCE
A test plan is created where the project is tested at each development milestone and again multiple times upon competition to ensure a seamless experience
LAUNCH
Working alongside the client, a process is established to launch the project based on the intended audience. The code is then packaged up and provided to the client!
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
This unique training experience takes place in a realistic 3D virtual environment where either a stove top or a trash can are engulfed in flames. Similar to actual fires, we don’t pick and choose where they occur so SIMSAFE provides a randomized option that ensures its participants are always on their toes. However, prior to any fires being started, participants are fully trained on how to operate the VIVE Focus Pro Plus VR headset and the P.A.S.S. technique of how to properly extinguish a fire. Once the user has either properly put out the fire or run out of extinguishant and failed, an end screen appears providing helpful insight as to how well they did. Users will also be advised when to fight the flames or flee and allow the fire department to take over.
All that said, Gravity Jack and the Spokane Valley Fire Department are committed to bringing more features to the SIMSAFE experience. How?
- Ensuring 60% of all revenue goes back into the project in order to make updates and add new experiences.
- Quarterly emails sent to SIMSAFE owners asking for feedback and input on the updates and experiences.
- Additions that include: Different types of extinguishers, new fire types, additional VR physics giving participants an even more immersive experience, and much, much more!
FINDING A NAME
Gravity Jack offers a full suite of design and branding services — including naming projects. For SIMSAFE, Gravity Jack accounted for the competitive landscape, search engine optimization, consumer relatibility, and more!
Branding Your Project
Combining the project’s objectives with a name that stands out in the marketplace.
DESIGNING A LOGO
If a logo for a project is needed, Gravity designs several different iterations that captures the purpose of the project. The SIMSAFE logo represents fire training in a safe environment.
Final Logo Delivery
The Gravity Jack process allows clients to choose a logo that best represents the project and can be universally identified.
MARKETING MATERIALS
Since SIMSAFE is offered as a package that comes with VR headsets, Gravity Jack designed several marketing materials such as brochures and websites to help promote the experience.
Extra Graphics
Leveraging additional project assets across several platforms.
USER STORIES
With a wide range of outcomes within the SIMSAFE VR environment, Gravity Jack create wireframes and user stories that accounts for every scenario that is to be developed into the app.
User Stories
Puts us in the shoes of a potential user to make informed decisions about the functionality and flow of the project.
WIREFRAMES
The above wireframes showcase how the starting point of the fire extinguisher in the VR scene and the actions the user needs to take to grab it and begin to put out the fire.
Wireframes
The blueprints of a project that put the design and development teams on the same page prior the development
3D DEVELOPMENT
The SIMSAFE VR application features a wide range of 3D assets and animations work in tandem to create a highly realistic environment for the user.
Custom Animations
Movements and actions that bring 3D artwork to life.
UI DESIGN
Knowing that the most likely user of SIMSAFE would be new to VR experiences, Gravity Jack developed a UI that features a tutorial of the entire SIMSAFE experience
User Experience Design
Enhancing the user’s overall experience through thoughtful digital designs.
VR ENVIRONMENT
To make the experience as realistic as possible, Gravity Jack chose a 3D kitchen environment that features the 3D objects and animations
3D Asset Optimization
Adding details and optimizing existing 3D models for interactive use.
INSTRUCTION BOOKLET
Every SIMSAFE comes with an instruction booklet that outlines the process and procedures of operating the Oculus and the VR experience
Tutorial
SIMSAFE VR features an in-app tutorial on how to operate the experience
PRODUCT PACKAGING
The SIMSAFE package is shipped in a custom protective box with wheels that allows the VR headset to safely travel from event to event.
User Manual
Every order of SIMSAFE comes with a physical user manual that provides instructions on operating the VR headset.
SIMSAFEVR.COM
For those who want to learn more about SIMSAFE and even order the experience itself, Gravity Jack developed a custom website for users to visit.
Web Development
Creation of an online presence that is unique to the project.
FINAL DELIVERY
In a strategic partnership, Gravity Jack and the Spokane Valley Fire Department were able to create a custom VR application that provides users a safe training environment that allows users young or old to extinguish common household fires using proper techniques.
The Goal
Create a training environment that results in a major reduction in labor & time costs compared to actual on-site training which requires more personnel and equipment.
Gravity Jack’s Solution
Create a VR environment that trains users on extinguishing fires, but also puts their training to by tracking the user’s motions, the time it takes them to extinguish the fire, and calculating how much of the extinguisher they used to put the fire out. At the end of the experience all of the data is combined to provide the user with an overall score.
The Result
Interactive VR software and corresponding hardware that can be purchased and shipped to schools, offices, and fire departments across the country to train users on deploying the P.A.S.S. (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) technique on common household fires.
