Hairdressing trainees at CMA Formation Mende are provided with an immersive room that allows them to learn the art of hairdressing, equipped with headphones and controllers.
CMA Formation Mende opened, Wednesday, October 9, 2024, its comprehensive room, the first of its kind in the CFA for Occitanie professions, which allows hairdressing apprentices to make their first cuts, in a real salon. The only difference from reality is that everything is virtual, including the model, scissors and comb.
An investment of 46,000 euros
In front of representatives of local authorities, Laure Troutin, Deputy Prefect of Lozère, David Raymond, Inspector of the Academy, and Florence Vignale, President of the Chamber of Professions and Crafts, welcomed this new teaching tool: “We need to get into the digital age, it's a fun way to get our young people into the trades.” The cost of the room is 46,000 euros (50% financed by the region). It is surrounded by projectors that recreate a virtual image on three walls: “This tool is designed to accommodate all professions. It will never replace a teacher but will be a good complement.” The president added. The expansion must extend to other professions over a period of five years: “The massacre project is beginning to bear fruit.”
Comb and scissors on a controller
It's show time, lights out. A young apprentice, equipped with an augmented reality headset and controllers, works (via projection on the walls) in a real hair salon. The model waits, on the chair, to make a straight cut. All exercise settings are selected. Natalie Merwicks, a hairdressing guru, offers her advice.
With a click of the lever, the (virtual) comb picks up the first bang to be cut. However, with the controller, it's the scissors' turn to get to work. The result, in percentage of success, is displayed on the screen. Using an app on their phone, other students can also do their exercises (without an augmented reality headset).
“It's another way to approach hairstyle. We can approach techniques from different anglesElsa, the trainee, expresses. “But right now, we don't feel the texture of the hair.” Hence the need for other real exercises.
“We see faster acquisition of gestures.” Enthuses Florence Vignal. And the prospects for providing raw materials to the Authority, such as cutting meat in the butcher shop, which will become partially virtual.
