On 27th November, the Stuttgart Media University welcomed a committee of guests from the Gerardstetten Construction Machinery Training Centre to the XD Research Group's new Hybrid UX Lab. There, ten trainees, a mechanic, training manager Rainer Schiff and department head Michael Heim were able to try their hands at a unique excavator simulation developed as part of the THEIA-XR project by partner Creanex Oy. Staff members Sarah Bacher, Tanja Brodbeck and Manuel Kulzer-Braun looked after the visitors in three groups, who tested the simulation one after the other, filled out questionnaires on topics such as their perception of operating construction machinery, and took part in a tour in the lab. The simulation in particular sparked lively discussions, praise, but also further ideas for improvement that could be taken up into possible follow-up projects. In any case, there is motivation for further research and cooperation from both sides.
