Domestic researchers have developed "warm" information and communication technology (ICT) to assist with vocational training for people with disabilities, achieving results that lead to actual employment.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has developed technology to apply user-customized, immersive virtual training content to virtual vocational training for people with developmental disabilities.

The research team announced that it has developed "core technology for disability-tailored ultra-realistic interactive content" and entered the practical application stage.

ETRI developed content technology for barista and steam car wash professions, fields frequently entered by people with developmental disabilities, and applied it to virtual vocational training.

It is evaluated that the repetitive training and stage-by-stage and level-based training required for job proficiency are highly helpful in fostering growth to a level where actual employment is possible.

The technology developed by ETRI is an intervention content technology that enables customized virtual training by applying intervention techniques, a special education teaching method, to the content, and a real-virtual mixed interactive content technology that allows for a realistic virtual training experience with sensations similar to actual training.

Mediation content technology is barista virtual trainingIt is applied to and consists of virtual mediation content typification technology, training content monitoring technology, and sensory fusion technology.

In addition, interactive content technology is applied to steam car wash virtual training and consists of training environment virtualization technology, training motion recognition technology, and multi-sensing-based realistic feedback technology.

In fact, the developed technology provides baristas with guidance at each stage of the coffee-making process. For instance, if a virtual object is bumped during the brewing process, vibrations are transmitted to the controller, allowing users to learn the technique easily and realistically.

In the case of steam car washing, the pressure sensor automatically analyzes whether the training is being performed correctly. If an incorrect action is taken, real-time voice guidance is provided, and once the training is complete, the results are quantified and reported.

The research team explained that they operated this technology as a Living Lab pilot service at a training center for people with developmental disabilities, and after its effectiveness was recognized, applied it to vocational training programs linked to actual employment.

Gil Yeon-hee, a principal researcher at ETRI’s Intelligent Knowledge Content Lab, stated, “Content technology is expected to evolve into ‘knowledge content for people’ that is not only entertaining but also integrated into our daily lives and utilized productively.”