HP Z VR Backpack Designed To Train Employees, Lower Training Costs

HP has created a new wearable VR PC that might not be just for gamers, but even help train employees by providing on-the-job training. VR is already being used to train soldiers, but it might be soon used to train employees in the fields such as product development.

Read: What Are Standalone VR Headsets And How Will They Change Gameplay?

The $3,299 backpack is comprised of a wearable PC that is compatible with major VR headsets such as the HTC Vive and can be worn around like a backpack.

It weighs around 10 lbs and the company claims that it is made of durable mesh material. The PC is powered by the Nvidia Quadro P5200 GPU with 16GB RAM and an Intel Core i7 processor, which comes with a 32GB DDR4 RAM.

It is also compatible with business-grade softwares such as Autodesk and Dassault. It runs its programs on Windows 10 Pro, comes with a HP Z VR dock, which can support two 4K displays at once and also mirrors displays using Miracast. The dock is designed for easy transition between VR and a hi-end PC.

Companies can design their own training programs using the proprietary dock. The backpack includes two hot swappable batteries, the HP Z VR Backpack harness, the PC and a power adapter.

The concept seems to push VR past just gaming usage, which the technology is majorly used for at the time. As a technology, VR until recently seemed to have to lost out to augmented reality in terms of usability not just because of cost impediments, but also since the technology is used to isolate users from their environments, unlike AR.

But the same isolation might actually become VR’s advantage since it can be used to create simulated environments, replicating which in the real world has cost deterrents. Moreover, employee training programs in VR can be easily altered according to the company’s changing needs.

A VR PC like this one can serve as a one-time investment for companies and replace trainers. But, the companies might also need to invest in designing the training program. More importantly, fields such as product development, which need detailed insight can be created and altered in VR. It can also be used to create immersive customer experiences.

Read: VR Set To Get A Dash Of Reality From Shape-Shifting Robotics

The HP Z VR PC can also be used for other purposes — it can also double as a gaming PC. HP has coordinated with the makers of the Mars Home Planet, which is working on creating a simulated environment of Mars. The team is working on creating a simulated Mars environment, which will have small to large bits such as whole buildings to even pieces of clothing.

The use of VR in such fields might make everyday functions more efficient for companies. The technology will join a legion of technologies such as AI, which despite possibly lowering costs for companies, could also cost humans jobs. Its usability though will be assessed by its everyday functionality.