New Tech Can Better Prepare an Ever-Evolving Workforce

Using emerging technologies such as AR, digital twins, and AI in complex training modules for the life sciences workforce can be “orders of magnitude better than how we used to train the workforce of the future,” said Robert Dempski, professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in an interview with Design News. 

In the upcoming MEDevice Boston presentation, “Navigating Tomorrow: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Future-Ready Workforces,” Dempski will discuss some of the new tools he and his group of students have created for companies to improve their workforce training. “This includes using technologies like AR and VR and digital twins, and we’re now integrating AI tools to make these more effective and scalable,” he said.

Among other things, Dempski said he will share data about one of the group’s most recent projects, a program to train users on lab safety, which has been demonstrated to work much better than traditional courses in lab safety, as well as in other areas such as assembling tools. 

“It would be one thing to integrate cool tools, because many of us like to integrate new technologies, but I really like the fact that we show that they’re really efficacious,” Dempski said. In fact, he related that the more difficult the training materials, the more effective these programs are.

“When you have to learn something that's really simple, the delta between the control and experimental conditions is significant, but it's not huge,” Dempski explained. “But then when you get into really complex training modules, these types of programs are really orders of magnitude better than how we used to train the workforce of the future.”

One of the challenges of training is that it can be high touch, with an instructor needing to be hands-on with someone to teach them something new. “I think this helps to lessen that to an extent,” he said. “It can help train people, so that either in the lab or in other settings instructors or other people can really focus on the areas that are more exciting and more creative."

People can be uncomfortable with new technologies, Dempski acknowledged. “But I’ve always thought behind these technologies is that it really enables you to do the more interesting things,” he said. “I think it just puts you on a different level,” he continued. “It gets away from some of the mundane chores that may be technically rigorous, but also boring. It gets you to move on to topics that people may find more exciting for their own personal level.” 

Many of the group’s programs are open source, where anyone can use them, or Dempski said he can also disseminate them. “Also, we’re happy to work with people that are interested in projects where they want to apply that to their own area,” he said, “because I think one of the challenges here that I’ve observed is that people in computer science, even in the life sciences, they may talk one language, and the people that are in life sciences talk a different language.” 

When asked who should attend his session, Dempski said that it would be useful for people who want to learn new ways to further train their employees. “I think those who are looking to expand their horizons in terms of improving their research and improving training and workforce development [should attend],” he said.

Ultimately, Dempski hopes that attendees will take away from the presentation some new approaches to improve their efficiency and productivity at work. “And, also to have a comfort level [with these new technologies], without being concerned about deleterious changes in their own careers,” he concluded. 

Dempski will present “Navigating Tomorrow: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Future-Ready Workforces,” on Thursday, September 26, from 3:15 to 3:45 PM ET, on the Center Stage at MEDevice Boston, an MD&M event.

The show will be held September 25-26, 2024, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.