Detroit Fire Department is claimed to be one of the most passionate department about helping the community with the highest safety level possible. Workers from this department often teach and train firefighters that came from other states, such as China or the European countries. Detroit department applies modern technology in their training of newly recruited firefighters. In particular, they used a computer-based game from FAAC Incorporated.
To begin with, business simulation is now used for the training of recruited employees. For instance, as per Faria (1987, 1998), simulations are used to train and teach by collegiate businesses, corporations, and management departments. Currently, simulation is also used to train people in the Detroit fire department. As mentioned in the interview, this fire department seeks to connect modern technologies with their experience (FAAC Incorporated, 2018). Therefore, FAAC simulation at the end of classes to train newly recruited firefighters after learning theory for 8 hours. FAAC Incorporated, in turn, “is the leader in simulation for training and research…[they] offer solutions for industries ranging from military, use of force, public safety, transportation, and research” (FAAC, 2021, para. 1). Thus, this technology is used for training in the most important industries responsible for citizens’ safety.
There are three types of simulations: computer-based games, board games, and behavioral simulations. Moreover, according to Summers (2004), during the late 1990s, several innovations were introduced, including computer-based behavioral simulations using decision trees. Applying FAAC in Detroit Fire Department training means that newly recruited firefighters use computer-based games (probably, using decision trees) for practice. In such games, players learn by managing simulated situations, in this case, fire in the neighborhood and other places. Firefighters need to go for a computer to sit and believe that this process occurs in real life, and act accordingly, which can be one of the most efficient ways to practice the learned theory.
Concerning the potential benefits of such training, one can highlight fewer physical traumas, increased efficiency of time, and decreased time spent on practice in real life. Firstly, as after the classes where firefighters learn theory, they are going not for real practice outdoors, as in past times, but for computer-based simulations. In other words, before the firefighters will require to act in real life, they are trained by games, which cannot harm them in reality. This means that firefighters are getting prepared for potential damages both in their lives and the lives of others mentally, but they have enough time due to simulation to avoid mistakes causing such damages in reality.
Secondly, the increased efficiency of time due to the use of computer-based simulation is another potential benefit. This means the same actions as in reality, in the computer game, a person may do quickly merely by pushing specific buttons. Although the time for actions is artificially decreasing, a person practices his knowledge and gains experience from his actions, as in the outdoor practice. As a firefighter trains his abilities and remembers information by making mistakes and evaluating actions, he would make similar errors in real life with less probability because of performed analysis of the played game. Therefore, the actual time of overall practice, both computer-based and outdoors, is spent effectively: less time spent on actions during the games but analyzed mistakes stops the person from repeating them in outdoor training.
Finally, decreased time spent on practice in real life can be considered the third benefit of using the simulation while training. While practicing outdoors, firefighters need to wear a specific uniform and perform actions in it, which might be exhausting for them and require a lot of effort. Although it is needed for a firefighters to be strong and enduring, it can be not so efficient to be tired while repeating the same actions and trying to analyze performed mistakes. Therefore, computer-based simulation takes some time from outdoor practice, but it makes both stages of studying more efficient.
In conclusion, it should be pointed out that it is important to apply innovations and modern technologies even to industries where everything was working properly before their invention. This is true because such technologies, as FAAC simulation, might make physical traumas fewer while training, increase time efficiency, and decrease the time spent on practice in real life. It should also be highlighted that such computer-based games are used for training and research in the most responsible industries of citizens’ lives: military, use of force, public safety, transportation, including the Detroit fire department.
Reference List
FAAC Incorporated. (2018) Detroit Fire Department: Fire Simulation Training With FAAC.
FAAC. (2021) The Leaders in Simulation Training and Research.
Faria, A. J. (1987) A Survey of the Use of Business Games in Academia and Business. Simulation & Games, 18, 207-224.
Faria, A. J. (1998) Business Simulation Games: Current Usage lLevels—A ten year update. Simulation & Gaming, 29, 295-308.
Summers, G. J. (2004) Today’s Business Simulation Industry. Simulation & Gaming, 35(2), 208-241.