‘Hobbits’ pointing out safety exits or football players sharing life jacket tips (we love those) could soon be a thing of the past.
According to the Daily Mail, there’s a new virtual reality video out in the wide world that demonstrates how survive a plane crash landing on water by simulating a previous real-life accident.
If you’ve ever trialled a virtual reality headset, then you know how incredibly ‘real’ the experience can be.
It really does feel like you’re in the simulated environment – hence the term ‘virtual reality’.
So far, the technology has mostly been used for entertainment value at theme parks or by tourist bureaus to promote destinations.
But now a short film has been developed by Italy’s University of Udine’s HCI Lab showing a virtual reality headset that makes the plane crash experience a little too real.
The video is based on an actual crash that occurred in 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing on the Hudson River.
The Captain piloted the plane onto the water when both engines failed and surprisingly all 155 passenger onboard survived. Only one person was hospitalised overnight.
Using dramatic music in the background, the video begins with passengers being welcomed on the plane and being shown to their seats.
Once seated, the video then jumps to the plane up in the air and a loud bang being heard before the plane begins rocking side-to-side.
Those wearing the virtual headset then feel the plane quickly descend and the user is told the ‘goal is to come out unharmed by following safety procedures’.
This starts with placing the life jacket over their head.
Users are then advised to make their way down the cabin – following the lights – to the emergency exit, where flight attendants are beckoning them onto the evacuation slide.
The experience is made real by the sounds of people screaming in the back.
You’ll have to watch the video above for more.
Luca Chittaro, head of the project, told the Daily Mail that the ‘Emergency Water Landing VR’ demo was developed last year for all possible technological platforms.
He said current safety videos are not engaging passenger’s attention and the simulation videos offers a ‘personalised’ and ‘experiential way of learning’.