CSM’s Mark O’Neil speaks to Captain Faouzi Fradi in Manila using a hologram in a portal
Image credit: CSM
Demonstrating the art of creating something in your head which is not there
Though online training is an effective alternative to address the social distancing measures, it does ensure clear understanding and even full focus on the course delivered. The hologram instead can make a difference.
Learning “without” a trainer
Cyprus-based ship manager, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) unveiled their hologram technology to enhance training standards for seafarers. The hologram enables participants to view the concepts that are taught and visualise them during class. This will help clarify the concepts in a better manner and will enhance participants’ learning.
CSM President and Chief Executive Mark O’Neil addressed an audience in Manila, the Philippines from the offices of OneLearn Global in Limassol, Cyprus, 8,900 km away. He appeared as a life-sized 3D hologram, in 4K resolution to demonstrate the technology. “The future is already here. The equipment we use is high tech, but very portable and takes the whole issue of speaker contributions to conferences or business meetings to a completely different level,” O’Neil remarked.
He added, “A fleet director in one part of the world can mentor ships’ officers attending a conference in another. Customers and suppliers can have more intuitive and interactive meetings without having to physically attend one. This is tomorrow happening today and we are delighted to be able to make it a reality.”
O’Neil was filmed talking to the audience in a purpose-built capture studio in OneLearn Global’s offices in Limassol. He was able to see the audience based in the Nautilus Pacific Maritime Training Centre in Manila, while they watched him standing life-sized within a 2.4-m, glass-fronted computerised box.
These boxes, or portals, have built-in speakers so the hologram’s voice can be heard, and cameras and microphones so the person appearing as a hologram can see the audience in front of their projection. CSM said this portal technology could be used to train crews remotely in real-time, replacing global travel with hologram-led international business meetings. Hologram technology was developed by the California-based company PortL, which worked with CSM for over a year improving the deliverable to fit the shipmanagers’ specific needs.
Captain Faouzi Fradi, CSM’s Group Director for Crewing and Training said, “With this technology, anyone who needs experts or senior management to attend meetings can have them beamed in. We used to fly people to Manila for US$3,000 plus the cost of a hotel and the loss of a few days travel. They can now contribute without leaving their country,” he highlighted.
Crewing Online News Team
Please email us at marketing@marineonline.com to contact the author for this article.
