Nearly 20 years ago, when Christopher Chambers was still an officer in the U.S. Army, he helped develop one of the world’s first “serious games” – video games that serve a purpose beyond entertainment.
Chambers at that time was the deputy director for the Army Game Project, leading product development, distribution, public relations and marketing. He took that experience and in 2014, founded Serious Simulations LLC, which designs and makes human motion-based, virtual-reality (VR) training
devices. The firm, which leads the world in individual and small group simulator technology, has clients that include military personnel, as well as law enforcement officials, emergency responders, commercial/industrial workers, athletes, and for individual/group professional training.
The realistic, wireless, easily moveable simulators enable full psychological immersion and unhindered human physical motion, which means individuals can train in their duty gear. The simulators and related components are designed to be wireless and light so the users can have the actual tools of the trade, such as weapons, fire nozzles, footballs and helmets. The firm also is developing ways to overcome simulation motion sickness, helping encourage wider public acceptance and long-term use of VR.
The firm’s systems also feature:
- Wireless video techniques for VR displays
- Double-wide displays permitting human peripheral vision in the VR world
- Display optics that enable fine detail at great virtual distances
- Superior audio
- Force feedback devices
- Wireless data sensors for using real weapons in training, instead of simulated weapons Biometric feedback
- Unobtrusive markers for tracking human movement Real-time avatar creation with human motion data
Additionally, the firm’s Zero-Fram Latency Wireless VR Processor can help process visual images more than a thousand times faster than the human brain.
“Our current technology is four years in the making, with seven patents awarded or pending, and numerous other innovations and intellectual property developed,” said Chambers, the firm’s CEO. “Accomplishing professional training in areas or tasks that are too dangerous, expensive or take place in currently denied access areas — for example enemy territory, buildings or places constantly in use or too far away — while enabling instant feedback, instant resets and the cost advantages of more effective training in less time.”
In fact, the firm in August debuted an industry first at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week: a wireless VR helmet mounted display for elite football quarterback training. The first unit was created for Colorado-based Sports Virtual Training Systems, which is bringing VR simulation to professional and collegiate football. The first system focuses on training pro quarterbacks, but can be altered for elite college and professional players in all positions.
Serious Simulations was chosen as one of Orlando Business Journal’s 2018 Innovations in Technology Awards honorees.
Here’s more from Chambers on the company’s tech:
How does your innovation help your customers? Current and target customers include military, first responders, elite athletes, heavy industry, and even location-based entertainment/theme park clients. These customers all demand more realistic and immersive experiences to achieve the best training outcomes possible.
What sparked that idea for you? At the Army Game Project, we produced in-house a video game for the purpose of Army strategic messaging and recruiting, and then expanded the franchise to Xbox, mobile and arcade games. I deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom, and returned to the America’s Army team with a new self-imposed mission to help in the war effort. We quickly dual-purposed our game code to support training and simulation. We built simulations to train soldiers on robots and weapons that were so new, they were introduced directly into the combat theaters with only limited paper-based training packages. Our game-based training was far superior and efficient. This experience sparked my belief that video game technology actually saves and improves lives, more so now, when it is coupled with virtual- and augmented-reality technology in immersive simulators.
How does it impact Central Florida’s economy? We are adding to the reputation of Orlando as “Simulation Valley,” the epicenter of simulation industry. We currently engage approximately a dozen individuals, and team with many small and large companies pursuing government and civilian programs that can bring in hundreds of millions of dollars.
What was your biggest misstep when trying to get that idea going? We tended to concentrate too much effort on one person’s or company’s shoulders, which created a situation ripe for delays and failures. We try now, wherever possible, to spread out our needs over several individuals and firms.
What was your proudest moment in bringing that idea to fruition? I get a feeling of pride whenever a person puts on our wireless VR headset that features human peripheral vision and crystal clear optics, and they say “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” I’m equally proud when a world-class defense prime contractor comes by for a presentation and says “Very impressive. You have accomplished an amazing amount in a short period of time.”
Your advice to other tech innovators: Stay confident and committed. Be mentally prepared for a long haul. Nothing worth doing happens fast or easy.
About Serious Simulations LLC …
Innovative idea: Completely realistic, wireless, easily moveable simulators enabling full psychological immersion and unhindered human physical motion
Time it took to execute the idea: Four years
Investment: $3 million-plus, mostly in internal technology development
Employees involved in getting it implemented: 30
Headquarters: OrlandoI
Industry: Modeling and simulation
Anjali Fluker
Associate Managing Editor
Orlando Business Journal
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