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5. Accessing Innovative Technology at the Cradley Heath Living Lab

• Here at the Cradley Heath Campus we have a range of innovative technologies that can be made available to use with employers, employees and learners alike in the development of real life problem solving, skill and knowledge acquisition.

  Virtual Reality Head Sets

  

  For several years now, the college have worked in close partnership with EdTech companies such as Bodyswaps. Bodyswaps is a "soft skills" development suit of simulations which enable users users to engage with real life scenarios in a variety of different contexts. In our partnership work, we have specifically fed into the development of their health and care simulations. 

  Here is one example of how skill development was explored with a simulated service user experiencing mental health challenges:

   

  An additional notable feature of the Bodyswaps software is their integration and application of Artificial Intelligence.

  Here, bespoke scenarios can be created for users to engage with an "unscripted" avatar that has custom personality and behaviour traits. With this, users can not only engage with specific service user dynamics in a "safe" environment, but from the VR head set sensor input, they can receive feedback on their handling of the situation with metrics such as:

  • Levels of eye contact
  • Pace and tone of voice
  • Words used
  • Body language

  These metrics can be recorded and collated in a pdf file format for post session analysis.

  Here is a worked example of such a session where a tutor is using the AI simulation to engage with a bespoke avatar:

• 3D Printing and Assistive Technology

  The Living Lab at Cradley Heath has a on site 3D printer where bespoke solutions to specific challenges can be talked out, designed and created.

  

  Additional to this we have an array of mechanical and non-mechanical assistive technologies that reflect how assistive technology can be used within real life settings.