PRESS RELEASE
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center and Operator XR announced a strategic research collaboration aimed at enhancing law enforcement training through cutting-edge extended reality (XR) technology. This collaboration will focus on improving human performance in high-stress situations, with particular emphasis on active shooter response training.
The collaboration brings together ALERRT’s expertise in law enforcement training and research with Operator XR’s innovative XR technology platform, creating new opportunities to advance training methodologies that can save lives in critical incidents.
The research collaboration will explore various aspects of XR-enhanced law enforcement training, including training efficacy, skill acquisition and retention, physiological and psychological response measurement, decision-making processes, and team dynamics in simulated environments.
“We are looking forward to working with the Operator XR team. We are especially excited to leverage the advanced capabilities of Operator XR’s multi-user VR training platform. Its customizable tools and immersive technology will expand our ability to study and improve law enforcement performance across a wide range of situations faced by law enforcement officers every day,” said Hunter Martaindale, PhD, Director of Research at ALERRT.
Kim Hopwood, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Operator XR, commented: “We’re excited to work with ALERRT’s cutting edge research team who are at the forefront of understanding the science of high-risk situations within law enforcement. This collaboration will help us validate and enhance our technology while contributing to research that ultimately helps prepare law enforcement professionals for the challenges they face in the field.”
As part of the collaboration, Operator XR will provide ALERRT with advanced VR training equipment and early access to new features, while ALERRT will share expertise and research findings to help enhance product development. The organizations will also pursue joint funding opportunities and collaborate on conference presentations and publications.
The collaboration is initially set for a two-year period with quarterly progress reviews, with the potential for renewal based on mutual agreement.