Serious about staying ahead of the game

Looking around me, I spot a 25ft long torpedo to my right and can tell the living conditions on board the submarine are very cramped to say the least. Making my way around, I come across a periscope and an array of screens and buttons, but I make sure I don't touch anything - after all I don't have a clue what outcome my actions could have.

I watch in horror as chamber after chamber of the submarine start to fill with smoke after a fire breaks out. I'm not dreaming, but, thankfully, I'm not too concerned about the events I am experiencing - as they are all happening aboard a virtual demonstrator.

Such training tools are being used widely now - the use of 'serious games' aiding in the education and training of real-life situations. And at the forefront of this technology, is none other than a small team of academics based at a city university.

The Human Interface Technologies Team, headed up by Professor Bob Stone at Birmingham University isn't housed in a state-of-the art complex though. On the contrary, nestled away in a snug office, you would be forgiven for being unable to imagine this as a leading department in the world of serious gaming. No shining plasma screens or flashy displays adorn the room, but if you are looking to be inspired about gaming of the serious nature, look no further.

For Prof. Stone's list of clientele prove that what glitters is not always gold and that staying ahead of the game, so to speak, is what is important. Working closely with professionals such as doctors, marine biologists and even the Ministry of Defence, Prof Stone, a veteran of over 21 years in the simulation and virtual environments arena, is a forerunner when it comes to the implementation of gaming as a learning and training tool.

But alongside the advanced technologies being used, Prof Stone credits his hands on approach for the success of his projects. "We are the leading group in the UK for serious gaming and we certainly don't need a flashy new building to prove we are at the cutting edge of all the latest technologies.

"Technology is constantly changing and improving, but in order to stay one step ahead, we need to educate people about what can be achieved.

"All you need are people interested enough in gaming to take it to the next level. It's about going beyond entertainment and producing something which is educational.

"You need to work closely with people in the first place to deliver an end product that will appeal to them. "It's not the technology that engages people or immerses them - it's the content. You have to ask yourself, 'Can you lose yourself in it?' If not - it won't work."

Thanks to this way of thinking, Prof Stone has headed up numerous successful projects and has given presentations all over the world about what gaming, of the serious nature, has to offer. He and his team have even brought to life in virtual reality, Europe's first artificial reef.

The virtual world of the sunken Scylla frigate, which forms the artificial reef in waters off Cornwall, allows students to study the reef without having to be an expert diver.

The program developed by Prof Stone's team, helps monitor the wreck and develop educational engagement and is constantly being updated to keep it as life-like as possible. Murky waters, sea anemones, starfish and even a friendly octopus, all make a life-like simulation, of the reef, and children visiting the aquarium are also encouraged to take a virtual tour of the wreck. As well as providing entertainment, it also getting them to think about the importance and significance climate change has on the eco system.

Another ongoing project involves Prof Stone working with the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine - to create a training tool for medics going to war torn regions in Afghanistan.

And work with counter terrorism departments, assisting in the training of future bomb disposal experts is also ongoing.

So, as you can see the cutting edge technologies which have been honed in Birmingham, are already having a very serious impact indeed.

But where is Birmingham itself placed in the virtual arena and what does the future have in store for the city?

That, Prof Stone believes is in the hands of the people living in the city, themselves.

"There is a lot of really good talent in Birmingham that needs focusing so that Birmingham can benefit.

"In order to stay ahead of the game, so to speak, we need to start exploiting the skills that people have to remain innovative.

"We need to stand back and look at our key strengths and take this technology out to those areas of the city that need it most.

"Technology of this kind has great potential - I would like to see it used in schools in a sensitive and controlled way.

"We should be looking at inspiring children and teaching them skills about the technology to create future generations of people ready to take the helm and continue being leaders in this area."

"To innovate you have to educate and to be able to educate people in the first place, you have to inspire them.

"Birmingham is firmly on the map as a leading light in the gaming industry and we have the people and the skills to ensure it stays that way."