Every construction project faces challenges that need to be addressed. But the key decision for companies is when to tackle these issues: beforehand, during, or after the fact. Matthew Vitti believes that addressing challenges upfront is the best approach, and it's hard to argue with that logic.
That's why Matthew focused on the Safety First Simulators project. This initiative aims to train new employees to operate telehandlers and other construction equipment safely, thereby preventing accidents on site. By addressing potential problems before they occur, the project takes a proactive stance.
The technical aspects of the Safety First Simulators project are managed by the Focus21 team. Working closely with Matthew Vitti, we developed a compact and user-friendly hardware-software system that accurately simulates telehandler operation. Our solution was put to the test by an experienced operator with 30 years of experience, who confirmed its effectiveness during testing.
Matthew Vitti has extensive experience and background in various fields. For over 20 years, he worked as an architect not only in North America but also in Europe and Asia, holds a California (USA) architect's license for about 15 years, and has dozens of successful projects around the globe.
By the end of 2015, during the virtual reality entertainment boom, he began considering this technology from a business perspective. After thematic presentations at numerous conferences and events worldwide, he became known as an architect who tamed VR.
In late 2017, he founded Room Scale Labs and began offering virtual reality design services to the construction business. Extensive B2B interaction experience with various contractors taught him to identify companies' pain points and find effective solutions.
"All construction projects have problems and there are only 3 options as to when you can resolve them - Before, During or After Construction. By utilizing technology, we better our chances in exposing these issues as early as possible in the process." — Matthew Vitti
Safety is one of the most critical issues for any construction project without exception. Preventing any accidents is the number one mission for major contractors in North America. And Matthew has helped many companies avoid them with virtual reality.
In 2022, Matthew worked with the major contractor Lexicon, for which he created Safety Training solutions using virtual reality. One of the company's requests was to train new employees on handling loading and other construction equipment as safely as possible.
It was important to give the contractor the ability to train employees without risking the lives of others. Plus, newcomers should not have access to expensive equipment on site. After a year of discussions and negotiations, it was decided to create a simulator, which laid the foundation for Safety First Simulators.
Matthew Vitti immediately realized that virtual reality was not the best fit for such a project. He believes that there is no point in using such technologies everywhere. VR would have made the simulator a single experience for one person with no onlookers learning as well, where the aim here was to promote learning in all ways possible - even those watching. The idea is similar to the experience of watching friends play a racing game in a video arcade – a crowd gathers, watches the main player, but also learns simultaneously.
Matthew began searching for a software development team that could help him bring this rather unique project to life. The task was not simple due to the clearly defined budget, tight deadlines, and a rather complex technical brief.
Matthew found Focus21 through a recommendation. He immediately liked that we deeply immerse ourselves in the client's problem, trying not just to find a simple solution but also to provide useful recommendations for improving the project. Matthew set several challenging tasks for our team.
Most simulators on the market today are very bulky. They usually occupy an entire room of considerable size and are absolutely not suitable for transportation. Plus, they are not always efficient, as they use outdated software and hardware.
The cost of such simulators is usually in the range of several hundred thousand dollars, so not all companies can afford them. However, due to their low efficiency and logistical difficulties, even large contractors do not purchase them very often.
Ultimately, there are no standardized training standards for operating telehandlers and other heavy machinery in the construction industry today. Therefore, each contractor uses their own educational developments, and it is important to customize the software of each simulator to them.
As part of the collaboration with Safety First Simulators, the Focus21 team was involved in designing not only the software but also the hardware. Our specialists also worked on some marketing materials for the pilot version of the construction telehandler simulator.
Due to NDA agreements, unfortunately, we cannot disclose the technical nuances of developing the entire product. However, we can note that Unity tools were used as the platform for three-dimensional graphics, and C# as the main programming language.
It's important to note that together with Matthew, we intended to create a detailed environment with game-like qualities and realistic graphics. This positively impacts the depth of immersion and the effectiveness of training new employees.
During the development of the MVP, the Focus21 team was in constant contact with Matthew. The project was very unconventional, so there were many unforeseen moments during its implementation that needed to be promptly addressed.
For the first version of the simulator, several basic tasks were created that a new employee of a construction company must complete without errors to pass the training. If necessary, new ones can be created according to the specific request of each customer of this hardware-software complex.
The Focus21 team continues to work on improving the project for Safety First Simulators and is currently developing a second version of the simulator with improvements in all aspects of its operation. It also participates in its promotion in the construction industry.
After completing the first version of the simulator, it was tested by an operator with 30 years of experience. This was not just any manager, but a real specialist who spent most of his life operating such equipment, so he could accurately pinpoint any weaknesses.
The operator began to control the telehandler in the simulator without any problems and without any instructions. All the elements were familiar to him, so he managed to complete all the training tasks with ease. The only request was the ability to move your head in the simulator which the Focus21 team has added.
Safety First Simulators and Focus21 have achieved a very high level of immersion using their simulator. After undergoing training on Telehandler Forklifts, the initial testers felt as though they were genuinely on an actual construction site.
Indeed, the telescopic handler simulator is also engaging due to the gamification of the training process for new employees. They effectively receive educational missions that need to be completed, systematically increasing their level. The more missions they complete, the closer they get to working on a real project.
Today, there's no other simulator like this one on the market. Even the most basic version of the hardware-software setup is so portable that it can be easily moved around in a small truck. This feature is especially crucial for big contractors who hire lots of new workers in various regions.
The software and even the hardware of the simulator can be easily changed according to the requirements of a specific construction company. Today, there are no clear standards for employee training in North America, so Safety First Simulators' clients will receive a product adapted to their needs.
There is no specific cost for the simulator, as it depends on a multitude of factors, including the complexity of customization for a particular company. But it is already clear that Matthew Vitti, together with Focus21, has achieved a tenfold reduction in costs compared to traditional solutions available on the market.
"The collaboration with Focus21 has been instrumental in our project's success. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence have truly set them apart."
- Matthew Vitti, CEO of Safety First Simulators & Room Scale Labs
Safety First Simulators and Focus21 continue to work on the unprecedented construction telehandler simulator, unparalleled in the market. This is a unique product that solves a specific problem — it truly reduces the risk level at construction sites.
It is quite possible that in the near future, Safety First Simulators with the technical support of Focus21 will become the initiator of creating specific educational norms in the construction industry of North America. Then the simulator could become standardized and even more accessible.
The hardware-software complex project has very high prospects today. They were made possible only thanks to the successful synergy between Matthew Vitti with a truly new and already in-demand idea, and the Focus21 team, which possesses a wide range of technical qualifications.
Safety First Simulators
Safety First Simulators
Construction
Unity
C#
Blender
Hardware
Product Strategy
User Research & Testing
UI/UX
Software Architecture
Software Development
3D Design
QA
Video Production
Every construction project faces challenges that need to be addressed. But the key decision for companies is when to tackle these issues: beforehand, during, or after the fact. Matthew Vitti believes that addressing challenges upfront is the best approach, and it's hard to argue with that logic.
That's why Matthew focused on the Safety First Simulators project. This initiative aims to train new employees to operate telehandlers and other construction equipment safely, thereby preventing accidents on site. By addressing potential problems before they occur, the project takes a proactive stance.
The technical aspects of the Safety First Simulators project are managed by the Focus21 team. Working closely with Matthew Vitti, we developed a compact and user-friendly hardware-software system that accurately simulates telehandler operation. Our solution was put to the test by an experienced operator with 30 years of experience, who confirmed its effectiveness during testing.
Matthew Vitti has extensive experience and background in various fields. For over 20 years, he worked as an architect not only in North America but also in Europe and Asia, holds a California (USA) architect's license for about 15 years, and has dozens of successful projects around the globe.
By the end of 2015, during the virtual reality entertainment boom, he began considering this technology from a business perspective. After thematic presentations at numerous conferences and events worldwide, he became known as an architect who tamed VR.
In late 2017, he founded Room Scale Labs and began offering virtual reality design services to the construction business. Extensive B2B interaction experience with various contractors taught him to identify companies' pain points and find effective solutions.
"All construction projects have problems and there are only 3 options as to when you can resolve them - Before, During or After Construction. By utilizing technology, we better our chances in exposing these issues as early as possible in the process." — Matthew Vitti
Safety is one of the most critical issues for any construction project without exception. Preventing any accidents is the number one mission for major contractors in North America. And Matthew has helped many companies avoid them with virtual reality.
In 2022, Matthew worked with the major contractor Lexicon, for which he created Safety Training solutions using virtual reality. One of the company's requests was to train new employees on handling loading and other construction equipment as safely as possible.
It was important to give the contractor the ability to train employees without risking the lives of others. Plus, newcomers should not have access to expensive equipment on site. After a year of discussions and negotiations, it was decided to create a simulator, which laid the foundation for Safety First Simulators.
Matthew Vitti immediately realized that virtual reality was not the best fit for such a project. He believes that there is no point in using such technologies everywhere. VR would have made the simulator a single experience for one person with no onlookers learning as well, where the aim here was to promote learning in all ways possible - even those watching. The idea is similar to the experience of watching friends play a racing game in a video arcade – a crowd gathers, watches the main player, but also learns simultaneously.
Matthew began searching for a software development team that could help him bring this rather unique project to life. The task was not simple due to the clearly defined budget, tight deadlines, and a rather complex technical brief.
Matthew found Focus21 through a recommendation. He immediately liked that we deeply immerse ourselves in the client's problem, trying not just to find a simple solution but also to provide useful recommendations for improving the project. Matthew set several challenging tasks for our team.
Most simulators on the market today are very bulky. They usually occupy an entire room of considerable size and are absolutely not suitable for transportation. Plus, they are not always efficient, as they use outdated software and hardware.
The cost of such simulators is usually in the range of several hundred thousand dollars, so not all companies can afford them. However, due to their low efficiency and logistical difficulties, even large contractors do not purchase them very often.
Ultimately, there are no standardized training standards for operating telehandlers and other heavy machinery in the construction industry today. Therefore, each contractor uses their own educational developments, and it is important to customize the software of each simulator to them.
As part of the collaboration with Safety First Simulators, the Focus21 team was involved in designing not only the software but also the hardware. Our specialists also worked on some marketing materials for the pilot version of the construction telehandler simulator.
Due to NDA agreements, unfortunately, we cannot disclose the technical nuances of developing the entire product. However, we can note that Unity tools were used as the platform for three-dimensional graphics, and C# as the main programming language.
It's important to note that together with Matthew, we intended to create a detailed environment with game-like qualities and realistic graphics. This positively impacts the depth of immersion and the effectiveness of training new employees.
During the development of the MVP, the Focus21 team was in constant contact with Matthew. The project was very unconventional, so there were many unforeseen moments during its implementation that needed to be promptly addressed.
For the first version of the simulator, several basic tasks were created that a new employee of a construction company must complete without errors to pass the training. If necessary, new ones can be created according to the specific request of each customer of this hardware-software complex.
The Focus21 team continues to work on improving the project for Safety First Simulators and is currently developing a second version of the simulator with improvements in all aspects of its operation. It also participates in its promotion in the construction industry.
After completing the first version of the simulator, it was tested by an operator with 30 years of experience. This was not just any manager, but a real specialist who spent most of his life operating such equipment, so he could accurately pinpoint any weaknesses.
The operator began to control the telehandler in the simulator without any problems and without any instructions. All the elements were familiar to him, so he managed to complete all the training tasks with ease. The only request was the ability to move your head in the simulator which the Focus21 team has added.
Safety First Simulators and Focus21 have achieved a very high level of immersion using their simulator. After undergoing training on Telehandler Forklifts, the initial testers felt as though they were genuinely on an actual construction site.
Indeed, the telescopic handler simulator is also engaging due to the gamification of the training process for new employees. They effectively receive educational missions that need to be completed, systematically increasing their level. The more missions they complete, the closer they get to working on a real project.
Today, there's no other simulator like this one on the market. Even the most basic version of the hardware-software setup is so portable that it can be easily moved around in a small truck. This feature is especially crucial for big contractors who hire lots of new workers in various regions.
The software and even the hardware of the simulator can be easily changed according to the requirements of a specific construction company. Today, there are no clear standards for employee training in North America, so Safety First Simulators' clients will receive a product adapted to their needs.
There is no specific cost for the simulator, as it depends on a multitude of factors, including the complexity of customization for a particular company. But it is already clear that Matthew Vitti, together with Focus21, has achieved a tenfold reduction in costs compared to traditional solutions available on the market.
"The collaboration with Focus21 has been instrumental in our project's success. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence have truly set them apart."
- Matthew Vitti, CEO of Safety First Simulators & Room Scale Labs
Safety First Simulators and Focus21 continue to work on the unprecedented construction telehandler simulator, unparalleled in the market. This is a unique product that solves a specific problem — it truly reduces the risk level at construction sites.
It is quite possible that in the near future, Safety First Simulators with the technical support of Focus21 will become the initiator of creating specific educational norms in the construction industry of North America. Then the simulator could become standardized and even more accessible.
The hardware-software complex project has very high prospects today. They were made possible only thanks to the successful synergy between Matthew Vitti with a truly new and already in-demand idea, and the Focus21 team, which possesses a wide range of technical qualifications.
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