Communications of the ACM
New Recruitment Tool for Construction: The Joystick
The U.S. construction industry aims to restore its workforce amid retirements and declining interest in the profession, by attracting younger replacements who grew up playing PC games.
Credit: Tim Gruber/The New York Times
The U.S. construction industry aims to restore its workforce amid retirements and declining interest in the profession, by attracting younger replacements who grew up playing PC games.
Some construction firms, unions, and schools are using simulators that replicate jobs done by heavy equipment to help attract new recruits.
For example, the Nevada chapter of Associated General Contractors installed loader and excavator simulators at its headquarters last fall, consisting of a mechanical chair, a seatbelt, pedals, screens, and other controls that real-life workers would use in the actual conveyance.
The excavator also can be used with an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, which produces a 360-degree outdoor canvas.
Simulators are designed to engage multiple senses, with most featuring real controls in the proper locations to help users develop muscle memory.
From The New York Times
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