{"id":176715,"date":"2019-07-06T23:54:31","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T21:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=176715"},"modified":"2019-07-06T23:54:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-06T21:54:31","slug":"virtual-reality-stress-training-prepares-police-for-high-risk-situations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/virtual-reality-stress-training-prepares-police-for-high-risk-situations\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual reality stress training prepares police for high-risk situations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Virtual reality is also providing new opportunities in police training. In the Shotpros project, psychology-based training scenarios are being developed in order to improve decision-making and action-taking behaviours while under stress. The aim is to avoid violence and collateral damage in high-risk situations.<\/p>\n

Firearms attacks, rampages, terrorist attacks – new threat and risk scenarios pose new challenges for the European police. There has been a massive increase in the number of incidents in which police officers are deployed as first responders in threatening situations. First responders are faced with the challenge of assessing the situation accurately and deciding how to proceed. The success of the operation and its potential impact and consequences depend on these strategic decisions.<\/p>\n

Virtual reality innovation factor<\/h3>\n

Traditional training focuses on aspects such as being able to run fast and to use weapons skillfully. However, stress management and strategy are called for first\u00a0and foremost in high-risk situations. Stress limits perception and thus the ability to make the right decisions and act accordingly. In the\u00a0Horizon 2020<\/em><\/a> Shotpros<\/em> research project, innovative virtual stress training scenarios are now being created which would otherwise be impossible for security reasons. Thirteen project partners from academia and industry are working together with leading police authorities\u00a0in this multidisciplinary team. The project coordinator is the Viennese user-centred design consultants Usecon<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Project partner Ra\u00f4ul Oudejans<\/em><\/h3>\n

Among the research partners, is also the team from the \u00a0Center for Technology Experience<\/em> <\/a>at the\u00a0Austrian Institute for Technology<\/em> (AIT<\/em><\/a>). Its task is to examine the triggers, management and regulation of stress and emotions within virtual realities – and how they are measured. AIT project team member Sebastian Egger-Lampl <\/em><\/a>\u00a0explains that the training principles are based on psychological research dealing with decision-making and its underlying influences. Project partners involved in this part are the experts led by\u00a0Ra\u00f4ul Oudejans<\/em><\/a>, associate professor at the\u00a0Department of Human Movement Sciences,\u00a0Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,<\/a>\u00a0and at the Faculty of Sports and Nutrition, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. They also provide expertise in the training to help improve decision-making under stress.<\/p>\n

Making the right decisions<\/h3>\n

The training should lead to better and more sound decisions with regards to law and ethics. Police officers are trained in the ability to maintain an overview in threatening situations, to minimize the use of force and to avoid casualties and collateral damage such as panic and escalation.<\/p>\n

“Typically, under stress, very often a tunnel effect happens, which results in not even being able to see, much less process, everything that is going on.” Sebastian Egger-Lampl explains.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The project focuses on the design of a validated human factor model. In this study, the influence of psychological human factors on context-specific decisions and actions of police officers in high-risk situations are to be examined first. This model is intended to provide researchers with a deeper understanding of decision-making processes as well as provide the basis for the development of a future training program.<\/p>\n

Training material<\/h3>\n

The training material is then created based on these findings. These consist of:<\/p>\n