The first computer game I ever saw was a flight simulator. It was really just a couple of lines representing the horizon and runway, along with a crude control panel that I never fully understood. I crashed so many times that the sound is still ingrained in my mind. But through trial and error, I learned something about planes—at least the essential language and the basic steps involved in taking off and landing an aircraft.Only twenty years later, all commercial pilots in the United States were required by law to spend at least 60 hours in flight simulators to earn their licenses. With advances in computing, simulations have become increasingly sophisticated, ranging from Formula 1 cars or mining machinery to programs that simulate corporate situations to teach strategy and management.Simulations are excellent learning tools. Students become more engaged, learn by doing, accelerate their process with immediate feedback, and even enjoy it more. Success mainly depends on the simulations being both realistic and personalized, so the skills practiced are applicable in real scenarios.The latest developments in artificial intelligence radically expand the scope of what can be simulated. Now that machines can have conversations with humans, it's possible to create scenarios aimed at developing soft skills. Personalized bots can take on a character and situate themselves in a scenario, like a bot simulating a customer with a complaint. This way, we can practice communication in real-time across countless scenarios without needing to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations.There's no substitute for real experience, but simulation prepares us for the real situation, just as football players tirelessly train their passes and shots on goal with all kinds of exercises. How about practicing a cold call 100 times and receiving feedback after each one? At Alboro, we create sales situation simulations. Salespeople can train as many times as they want on their pitch, in personalized scenarios with virtual characters of varying difficulties. The sellers get engaged and learn, and supervisors can closely monitor the skills of their team.Want to try it out? Schedule a demo with me, and I'll show you how it works.
