Interactive virtual reality (VR) techniques and tools can be used to transfer knowledge and show concepts to targeted audiences. The use of VR permits 3-D interactive simulations to be used to effectively show concepts and knowledge in a visual and very effective way. This dramatically enhances the understanding of subjects traditionally taught through conventional and more abstract text-based methods.

VR allows us to share, on a personal level, knowledge about subjects and events normally experienced in the third-person. Environments, situations, and scenarios can be visited in a computerized virtual model, which time, distance, scale or safety factors would not allow in real-life. Learners (or Interested and Affected Parties) can see graphically how things work, walk through simulated environments, and importantly, interact with objects within that environment.

Whereas VR used to be associated with expensive technologies, interactive computer graphics have now moved squarely to the PC platform. It is this new desktop power that opens up many opportunities for its use in capacity building, environmental, and developmental work. Democritus is taking advantage of these new opportunities, which provide such powerful visual training experiences. Whilst a picture may paint a thousand words, an interactive 3-D model paints millions. We therefore use VR as part of our capacity building work and in our Public Participation Programmes. In the former it allows us to transfer skills and concepts across cultures, whilst in the latter it enables proposed changes to projects to be quickly assessed by stakeholders and Interested and Affected Parties.

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