IBM Develops 3-D job "rehearsal studio" to gain hard-to-learn skills in a virtual world

04 April 2008

IBM Research today announced having created a "rehearsal studio" that enables employees to rehearse their jobs and client engagement interactions in a virtual, three-dimensional world.

Movie casts, sales groups, orchestras and football teams all practice  or rehearse on a regular basis to improve their performance as a team. And research shows that people learn most of their required skills on the job rather than classrooms, says Big Blue.

IBM's virtual world rehearsal environment designed to help its employees practice and learn high-level skills with their teammates primarily gained through real-life experience.

"We see many possible applications for this technology that lets you practice, play out different scenarios and gain insight quickly - an ideal environment for learning in a range of jobs," says Jim Spohrer, director of service research, IBM Almaden Research Center.

"Learning in a virtual world helps us move the participants to front and center stage while still receiving valuable backstage coaching."

IBM Research has specially designed a 3-D environment to help IBM employees conduct more successful client engagements in diverse services such as implementing a software system in a constantly changing auto parts business and conducting crisis management. In the rehearsal space, IBM Global Services teams interact with avatars in real-time and learn how to implement a successful services project.