Effect of age and education level on operator's perfomance with harvester virtual reality simulator

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of age and education level on performance of forest operators during the training with the harvester virtual reality simulator (HVRS). The study was performed in the Forest Operator Training Centre (CENFOR), of the Midwestern State University (UNICENTRO), located in the municipality of Irati, state of Paraná, Brazil. Data of 124 professionals trained in the HVRS were used. A specialized software was used to simulate machine operation, and operational performance was conducted with the operators at the start and at the end of two operating modules. Results indicated that younger individuals had a better performance for the studied variables, as they could better assimilate the techniques and developed faster. This result shows that age is an important element to identify the ideal profile of people to be recruited as future harvester operators.