AN EVALUATION SCHEME FOR TWO SAFETY TRAINING APPLICATIONS

Safety research at Virginia Tech has developed two applications to enhance the mining industry’s training methods. The first application is a virtual reality training application that introduces the information to the user through a 3D model walkthrough of a conveyor belt and then tests, through task-based training, the knowledge the user has gained. The second application, a Digital Safety Manual, is designed to allow users to visualize and manipulate safety information using a non-linear interactive multimedia application. This paper describes the details of an evaluations scheme to test the usability and effectiveness of the two applications through novice and expert input. This involved a series of site visits to different companies and potential clients to review the information being presented and to get industry feedback. After the system was revised a series of usability studies and evaluations were conducted using novice and expert users to ensure that the applications are user friendly. The feedback and evaluations were then used to revise the applications and ultimately offer a product that would better fit the needs of the industry.