Development of an Internet virtual layout system for improving workplace safety

There is evidence that human perception of their interaction with real and virtual objects is indistinguishable in some instances. In this work, an Internet-based system is designed to test the influence of modifications in the virtual environment on perception of hazard. Variations in lighting, sound, distance and speed of dynamic virtual objects that include robots and virtual humans are incorporated into the test environment. The system is designed considering that subject testing will incorporate a psychophysical approach to an empirical analysis of risk and hazard perception for risk reduction in the workplace. Virtual and real conditions can be compared. This Internet-based virtual reality facility layout system (IVLS) can be used to test in industry as well as in the laboratory to help demonstrate the relationships between staff perceptions and organizational performance. It is expected that the results of further testing can be used to help industry to establish realistic guidelines for using virtual reality training to improve facility design and reduce hazards in the workplace. Some difficulties are discussed regarding the time to develop the models. Newer technologies that may be suitable for speeding up the model development time are also discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.