Introduction

Another news that is trending in the HR industry is the latest virtual character- Barry. His sole purpose is to listen patiently, then protest or sob a little as you fire him from an imaginary job in virtual reality. Keep reading to find out more about this virtual character and why we need him.

How did Barry come to life?

Talespin, a company based in Los Angeles, California, works on creating transformative XR business solutions that define the Future of Work. All of their virtual characters are designed to improve employee learning and engagement, empower distributed workforces, and provide enhanced clarity to workforce insights. Keeping this aim in mind, Barry was created, a character to help you enhance your firing skills.

Vr Character Barry Used To Practice Employee Firing | Itmunch

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What does Barry do?

The CEO mentioned that when any user interacts with Barry in the simulation, they are bound to navigate hundreds of possible conversation paths to effectively (or ineffectively) get rid of Barry. Along with this, they will face wrongful termination pitfalls. While doing this, they will experience Barry’s realistic speech, body language, and human-like mannerisms. Human-like emotions mainly include sobbing, yelling, and more. Basically, Barry can mimic everything a human is expected to do during the firing process.

Why do we need this VR character?

Kyle Jackson, the CEO, said that companies are interested in investing in solutions which can train their employees through VR. Using virtual reality, HR specialists can work on their soft skills such as leadership, empathy and communication. Plus, learn how to interview applicants and conduct performance reviews effectively.

How to use Barry to practice firing?

To talk to this VR character, trainees will be given a VR headset to enter an office environment. Here, Barry will play the role of an employee getting terminated. Once the headset is on, trainees can interact with Barry and converse with him about the firing process. While doing this, he will respond to the trainee with emotions a human being would naturally show in such situations.

Talespin concluded that with VR characters, they aim to help people become “better managers, colleagues, and communicators.” To learn more about this Barry and similar VR characters, click here.

Conclusion

The introduction of Barry, a virtual character designed to simulate the firing process in virtual reality, is a fascinating leap forward in HR training. By using VR to practice soft skills such as empathy, communication, and leadership, employees and HR specialists can enhance their ability to manage difficult situations like firing with more care and understanding. This innovative solution provided by Talespin is a testament to the power of technology in improving human interactions, making the workplace more compassionate and efficient.

Stay tuned with iTMunch for more such HR-tech news, AI and VR updates, trending startups and more.

FAQs

  1. What is Barry, and how does it help in HR training? Barry is a virtual character created by Talespin, designed to help HR specialists practice firing employees in a simulated, emotionally responsive environment. It allows users to navigate a variety of conversation paths and face the challenges of wrongful termination, providing valuable soft-skill training.
  2. How does the VR simulation with Barry work? Trainees wear a VR headset and interact with Barry, who plays the role of an employee being terminated. The VR system responds with realistic speech, body language, and human-like emotions, helping trainees develop better communication and empathy.
  3. Why is VR training important in HR? VR training allows HR professionals to practice delicate conversations, such as performance reviews or terminations, in a risk-free environment. It helps develop skills in leadership, empathy, and effective communication, which are essential for managing people.
  4. Is Barry the only virtual character designed for HR training? No, Barry is one of several virtual characters developed by Talespin for various HR training scenarios. These VR characters are designed to simulate different work situations and help employees improve their interpersonal skills.
  5. How can companies implement Barry in their HR training? Companies can invest in VR headsets and VR training solutions provided by Talespin to offer their HR teams the opportunity to interact with virtual characters like Barry. This can be used for enhancing skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and other key HR competencies.