Immersive Factory vs LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition

Immersive Factory offers workplace safety training through virtual reality, augmented reality, and web courses. Training includes interactive exercises, quizzes, serious games, and real-time feedback. The company describes anonymous, time-stamped reports and trainer feedback for tracking activity. Its I-Learning web offer is compatible with LMS platforms through SCORM and xAPI. Four AR simulators are available to try for free on a phone. SafetyBox VR arrives with exercises installed and can operate without Wi-Fi, a computer, or cables. Setup documentation covers Pico Neo 3/Pico 4 Ultra, Meta Quest 2/3, and HTC VIVE Focus 3. SafetyBox VR Day costs €890, paid once and SafetyBox VR Week costs €1,890, paid once; each includes a preinstalled autonomous headset, unlimited employee passes, and online support. Annual options include Catalog subscription AR at €3,600 a year, Catalog subscription VR at €3,800 a year, and SafetyBox VR at €3,990 a year. The AR and VR subscriptions have annual per-exercise licenses and require a tablet or headset, respectively. I-Learning WEB has a modulable price, supports computer, tablet, and mobile deployment, and is listed for up to 100 people per day.

LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition is a free virtual reality course for practicing safe work in a biological safety cabinet (BSC). Its 1.5 hours of training cover identifying Class II BSC parts, maintaining positive airflow, preparing for work, applying safe practices, decontaminating and shutting down, and emergency shutdown procedures. The course is designed for laboratory professionals, including public health and clinical laboratory staff, safety professionals, and others interested in safe BSC use. It supplements CDC’s existing eLearning course on working safely in a BSC. Learners practice in a virtual laboratory without exposure to pathogens or risk of accidental infection or release. The course is headset-only, with versions for HTC Vive and Oculus Quest 2; the equipment guide also identifies Meta Quest 2 and above and OpenXR-compatible headsets. It requires 360° tracking and a play area of at least 3 by 3 feet, with 20 by 20 feet listed as ideal. HTC Vive and tethered-headset setups require Windows 8.1 or later, at least 8 GB RAM, and 20 GB available storage, among other hardware requirements. Quest setup requires Wi-Fi and a mobile device for initial installation.