This may drift a bit off topic but I'll post it anyway.
About 6 months ago I was at Fort Lee Virginia at the US Army Ordnance School where they train Army welders. They had a really really cool virtual reality welding trainer. I'm pretty sure it was set up for stick welding. Anyway you used a "special" torch/gun/whatever the welding handle is called and wore a virtual reality welding helmet. When you squezed the trigger and got the rod near the material it would start to "weld." Through the helmet you saw what the weld would look like while your welding. The computer captured about 5 different data points while you were welding and would produce a "picture" in the helmet of what your weld would look like. The computer than evaluated all the data points (speed, heat, penetration etc.) and put it on a graph to show how good your weld was. It came complete with the appropriate sound effects.
I've never actually welded before but I thought it was incredibly realistic. When you were done welding the instructor replay your "performance" up on the big screen and would critique it with the class. You had to show proficiency on the virtual machine before you are allowed to go across the hall and start on real metal with a real welder.
They have found it to be very useful in teaching basic skills and it has both increased the speed at wich students become proficient and cut down significantly on materials costs.
Anyway I was very impressed. Cool stuff courtesy of Uncle Sam!
