[01/21/2010]

The Naledi3d Factory Adds Value to Communities in Africa Using VR Technologies from EON Reality

Using EON Reality's Virtual Reality software, The Naledi3d Factory, based in South Africa, communicates information using interactive 3D simulations that has a direct impact on the development of rural communities in Africa

IRVINE, Calif., January 21, 2010 - EON Reality, the world's leading interactive 3D software provider, is proud to be associated with the Naledi3d Factory, a resident at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria, South Africa. The Naledi3d Factory has used EON Reality’s technologies for over ten years as a social development tool in Africa for their interactive3d learning objects within for example, farming, life style and health awareness projects.

The Naledi3d Factory is exploring ways to use VR as a social development tool and have shown how VR can offer high returns in basic human (social) development. Most decision-makers in Africa initially see VR as a “first world” technology, but are pleasantly surprised to learn how easily it can make a big difference to people’s lives. More important, people in target communities are equally surprised to find just how easy it is to learn through visually interactive media.

Field surveying for water conservation - Practice follow theory		Bee-keeping - Zimbabwe		Mining - getting killed in the haulage-way

Low literacy levels pose a significant challenge to education - not only in Africa but elsewhere in the world. Traditional text-based education can’t readily address the needs of functionally illiterate communities, yet text continues to be used extensively. Language provides another barrier: English, French and Portuguese are commonly used in training across Africa, despite the fact that to the recipients, as African-language speakers, European languages are often their second, third, or even fourth strongest languages.

Being intensely visual as well as interactive, VR easily overcomes these text and language barriers to help people learn in a way that is not only engaging but also characterized by a high learning retention. Modern understanding of the human brain shows that the area of the cerebral cortex devoted to processing visual inputs is an order of magnitude more powerful than that responsible for processing text and speech. Using VR to demonstrate concepts and show knowledge visually greatly enhances the comprehension of many topics. Thus, we can easily offer effective skill development to those who are functionally illiterate - VR’s intensely visual nature transcends literacy barriers by showing as opposed to telling.

VR has a distinct and powerful edge over other more traditional approaches which ignore the visual nature of our human brains," said Dave Lockwood at The Naledi3d Factory. "Our interactive3d learning object concept takes this to an even higher level. Beyond education and training, VR-based simulations are also proving to be a great way to promote cultural heritage, new products and new technologies or proposed building developments to customers and other stakeholders."

About The Naledi3d Factory

The Naledi3d Factory has successfully used VR to communicate concepts and practices in a wide range of disciplines, including industrial training and safety awareness, renewable energy, heritage, new technology concepts, planning, farming as well as health awareness.

Together with partners such as UNESCO, the WK Kellogg Foundation and World Links Zimbabwe, they have been working on projects including rural hygiene; Malaria; HIV/AIDS awareness for Ethiopian educators, employment awareness for the South African youth living in townships and supporting emerging farmers in Zimbabwe on a range of agricultural issues. 

They have also worked with organizations such as ESKOM (alternative and sustainable energy technologies); the Rand Water Board on technical skills development, as well as with the private sector including AngloGold Ashanti, with whom they have addressed a many mine safety issues.
The company has close ties with Finland, Sweden, the USA and UK, but focuses its efforts in Africa and has worked with partners in several countries – including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique, Sudan, Senegal, Zimbabwe as well as South Africa.

About EON Reality
EON Reality, Inc. is the world's leading interactive 3D visual content management and virtual reality software provider. EON’s solutions enable all organizations to more effectively visually communicate, collaborate and accelerate knowledge transfer. Industry leaders include Atlas Copco, Bechtel, Boeing, Bombardier, Hon, Intel, Lexus, Lufthansa –Teknik, Peterbilt, Samsung, Siemens Medical, Suzuki, Toyota and Whirlpool use EON solutions to enhance the interactive user experience to effectively increase sales, better communicate product functionality and decrease the cost of service, training and technical support. Educational institutions and organizations who have adopted EON’s SBL technology solutions include: the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (located on the campus of the Florence-Darlington Technical College), Honolulu Community College, Old Dominion University, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Discovery World Museum, Oklahoma City Community College, Concord University, Texas State Technical College – Waco, El Paso Community College, University of Alabama, University of Hawaii, University of Kentucky and Fayetteville Technical Community College in North Carolina. For further information, visit www.eonreality.com.