The Royal Welsh Show will be the launchpad for a pioneering, bilingual farm safety app that harnesses the power of virtual and augmented reality to identify potential hazards and reduce the risks associated with farming.
The interactive ‘Fferm Ddiogel’ app has been created for Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol by Galactig with an aim to reduce accidents and improve farm safety. It transports users into realistic farm environments for learning and training.
Designed to support practical teaching by lecturers and assessors, the app uses engaging and dynamic scenarios highlighting hazards and how to mitigate risk when working with animals, driving all-terrain vehicles and carrying out farm tasks.
Sector research by the Coleg identified a need for an easily accessible, bilingual app to educate learners, apprentices and organisations about farm Health and Safety which is an essential part of agriculture qualifications and land-based studies from Levels 1 to 4.
Lisa O’Connor, Academic Manager for Further Education at the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol said:
“We are extremely proud to be launching this innovative resource that will truly make a difference to farm safety. Education is key for change, and we recognise the importance of Welsh and bilingual digital resources in the sector as an effective means to aid learners with their education. We look forward to launching the resource and to introducing it to colleges that deliver agriculture and animal management courses across Wales.”
”This new resource is pioneering and I very much welcome it. We hear all too often about accidents happening on the farm and this has to change, through education, in order to ensure the safety of our farmers.
The latest VR technology is exceptional, and I am of the view that it is a very effective means by which to educate the next generation of farmers to recognise the possible dangers on the farm and how to avoid them.
Rhys LewisCefn Gwlad presenter on S4C
