State of the Art Advancements in Technology Proves Cost Effective
29 January 2009
Advances in 3D animation technology has prompted many companies to adopt a fresh approach when tasked with the delivery of crucial and up to date safety training and induction material for new and existing staff. Organising production crews to visit the site and acquire material in order to produce a video is effective, but can be costly and time consuming. With the development of high quality, professional 3D animated DVDs, the outlay is minimised and can be highly effective when logistics get in the way.
The safety of the workforce is paramount, and with health and safety issues leading the many challenges facing companies at any one time, it is therefore prudent for companies to take advantage of video production services to produce suitable programming.
For over twenty years Viscom, an Aberdeen based multimedia company, have taken advantage of innovations in technology, and for several years they have been using 3D animation techniques to great success. They have a well-established 3D department, animating and modelling a range of subjects from the smallest of tools and electrical devices all the way through to photo-realistic representations of vessels, oil installations and helicopters.
Bruce Milne, Viscom's General Manager says: 'Our 3D department can provide promotional or instructional material such as a full demonstration of equipment in action or a highly detailed glossy promotional package, simply because a virtual camera is unrestricted by physical environments and free to show a product or site to its true potential.'
Using industry renowned software, 3D animation techniques allows the creation of a virtual environment from still photographs or technical drawings as source reference material.
This procedure has benefits that also go beyond the restrictions of limited 'normal' camera angles. Now 3D animation makes it easier to demonstrate a physical location's layout and orientation, and can heighten characteristic features without temporary equipment or plant interfering with its accuracy. Pioneering 3D animation can also be revised, therefore making it easier to keep up with government legislation and regulatory procedures that are constantly changing and being updated. Other benefits include:
- A reduction in the amount of time spent giving presentations
- An induction can be created before an installation is even commissioned for use
- It provides continuity in the Health and Safety message for all staff, especially across multiplesitesor when different people deliver QHSE Inductions, thus promoting a clear and congruent message
- All relevant QHSE topics can be included and selected via an appropriate menu structure to tailorthe delivery according to staff requirements
- It enables effective refresher training as it can be selected via a menu
- The ability to amend easily ensures up-to-date information at all times
- It is an ideal aid during 'Tool Box Talks'
By ensuring that each subject is carefully researched, the content storyboarded; scripted and produced, the final delivery format of the end result can be tailored to suit any requirements, such as DVD, CD and the Web. A DVD also allows the use of multiple languages or subtitles to meet the profile and requirements of a specific workforce. The health and safety topic is as wide as it is broad and Viscom are proud of the range of subject matter they have worked on, from staff training and induction and work place safety to risk assessment and personal security. Bruce Milne concludes: 'Once it is complete, an educational and training DVD can reach the maximum number of people with the minimum amount of effort and can be shown over and over again.'
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