According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the United States is expected to have a shortage of electricians in the near future. Statistically, the number of retiring electricians is outpacing the rate of new electricians entering the field, with 10,000 electricians retiring each year and only 7,000 entering the field in return.

As a result, this is producing a knowledge gap in the electrical industry, which creates the need for additional training resources to prepare the next generation of electrical tradesmen.

IVRY Technologies is the start-up Virtual Reality (VR) initiative created by IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. which is a global enterprise with companies serving technicians and workers across a wide range of industries, from electrical to construction to aerospace to automotive.

IVRY Technologies selected Groove Jones to develop an interactive training platform utilizing VR to train electrical apprentices on how to wire. The program, named VET (Virtual Electrical Training), can be customized for various training protocols, as well as complying to safety standards.

The initial product offering is designed to simulate the experience of an electrical apprentice training under the tutelage of a master electrician. The user is guided through the experience, first learning how to install a single-pole switch, and gradually advancing to more complex procedures, such as installing a three-way switch circuit.