A virtual reality law enforcement training program run by a nonprofit focuses on "empathy first" in hopes of building and reinforcing trust between police and the community.
The Institute for Lawful, Safe and Effective Policing (ILSEP) runs the program, which puts officers through scenarios designed to show how implicit bias comes into play in high-stress scenarios. "The approach we feel is different, there should be a different approach, there shouldn't be always be a force situation but how can we avoid force?" said Greg Wiley, ILSEP’s executive director. The first police departments will take the training later this month, according to ILSEP, at the REM5 VR Studio in St. Louis Park. "It's pretty intense when an officer goes into a training situation if the VR is working correctly, the palms get sweaty the heart rate goes up," said Amir Berenjian, owner of REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory. The member of law enforcement gives verbal commands to the virtual suspect and the program’s operator reacts to what is said during the encounter leading to different outcomes. “There's a state initiative to have law enforcement think about how law enforcement could behave differently to make sure those interactions are safer," Wiley said. "If everyone is thinking about how the other person might be feeling, how the other might be stressed, we feel those interactions are going to be safer, that's our goal." The nonprofit said they are awaiting grant funding to secure money that will allow them to bring the VR training to smaller departments in Greater Minnesota. https://kstp.com/news/nonprofit-hopes-virtual-reality-law-enforcement-trainer-reinforces-trust-in-real-world-technology-/5552234/
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REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory, 4950 W. 35th St., St. Louis Park, has been increasing its efforts to introduce students to virtual reality as an educational tool.
The business has worked with hundreds of local teachers and more than 1,000 students to integrate virtual reality experiences into the classroom. Programs allow students to tour the White House, use a public speaking simulator or virtually dissect a frog. In addition to the classroom work, the laboratory has several youth-focused educational programs: • The innovation lab is a free monthly program to expose youth ages 7-15 to different types of virtual reality technology and expand their vision for virtual reality outside of entertainment and gaming. • The robotics league is a four-week program during which students ages 8-13 build robots to test teamwork and problem-solving skills in a virtual environment. • Camp REM5 is a one-week summer program giving students ages 8-13 exposure to a range of past, present and future virtual reality technology. • Autism-focused programming is designed to create a safe learning environment for children with autism spectrum disorder or related learning differences. • The business is working with Benilde-St. Margaret’s to develop an internship program for two students this summer, one focused on operations and one focused on marketing. “At its simplest level, it’s like bringing a child to a computer lab in the 1970s,” said co-founder and education lead Travis Hoium. “Just the exposure to this technology has the potential to change the way students learn and interact – and it’s a fun and valuable exercise for students.” For more information, visit rem5vr.com or email education@rem5vr.com. https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/free/rem-expands-its-educational-initiatives/article_e4036160-9c3d-11e9-a0c2-fb7a2e0df39a.html |
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