FreeRangeXR

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founded in 1889 in Lübeck, Germany, Dräger is a global leader in safety and medical technology. The safety division specializes in fixed and portable gas detection and in respiratory protection. Our guiding philosophy is "Technology for Life", and we are committed to bringing innovative solutions to protect life safety. I am a Marketing Manager with Draeger.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FreeRangeXR, and what were your goals?

We hired FreeRangeXR to develop a virtual safety training experience to reinforce OSHA 1910.145 training programs. Our goal to take a behavioral approach to smart safety, and reinforce positive habits to help ensure that accidents do not occur.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I selected FreeRangeXR both due to their experience in making engaging games and also due to their experience in the safety industry. The fact that they already worked with safety organizations meant that they understood the needs of the industry and were committed to making a difference and modernizing safety training.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The Confined Space Entry program was based on their current CSE platform, but was completely overhauled to make it an even more immersive and challenging experience. Key to this software was to have a module with a competitive mode, where the user was timed and errors were logged and graded on a point scale. That way users can be compared, and awards can be given out.

FreeRangeXR first agreed on a script with a basic outline, then created a prototype which I gave some editing ideas on, and then developed the final version and pushed it to my Oculus. This was done in a quick and professional manner, with constant communication and excellent ideas on their part to make the experience as engaging and effective at training as possible.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked mainly with two people, one on the business development side, and one on the software engineering and development side. The owner was also very involved and made sure that the project was completed on time and with all requested deliverables included.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

I was able to demonstrate this product to several customers around the country with positive feedback and interest in working with us on worker safety programs. This is positioning Draeger not just as an innovation leader in safety equipment, but also as a thought leader on training and worker safety. Our products are also part of the VR experience, so we have product placement benefits as well.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Their communication was excellent, frequent, and transparent.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I found the combination of being a gaming company and a safety oriented company is unique in the industry. This expertise lead to a much faster production timeline, as well as a lower cost and yet effective software program.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I think they did an excellent job, and we are continuing to work together to market the program and educate the public on the benefits of educating people using VR.