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A Hawaiʻi Community College students uses the college’s new virtual painter equipment.

Hawaiʻi Community College’s Auto Body Repair and Painting (ABRP) program debuted its new virtual painter equipment, which students will use as they develop their auto body painting skills.

The new equipment was dedicated to the late Michael Saito, who passed away in 2012. Saito initiated the effort to procure the advanced technology. The virtual painter features a plaque bearing his name.

“Professor Saito left a rich and positive imprint on the ABRP program at Hawaiʻi CC,” said Joel Tanabe, an associate professor,and chair of the college’s Applied Technical Education Division. “Not only was he knowledgeable in his discipline, but also very ‘akamai’ on being an unselfish, compassionate human being. These desirable traits were demonstrated personally, but more importantly taught to his students as well as colleagues."

To use the equipment, students wear a head display that shows a simulated painting booth and use a hand-held “spray gun” to paint a virtual vehicle, a process that can be viewed on a screen by instructors and other students.

The technology allows students to learn the techniques of auto painting without using any material, which saves money. The virtual painter is environmentally friendly and toxic-free setting said Tanabe.

The virtual painter, made by VRSiM, Inc., also does an excellent job assessing students’ skills, ABRP instructor Garrett Fujioka said.

“It’s amazing,” said Fujioka. “It will tell you the thickness of the paint, if there’s too much texture, if there are runs, if it’s at the wrong angle. It just has a whole variety of assessment.”

The computer simulation won’t replace real, live auto body painting entirely. It will be used mostly to introduce students to the process of auto painting and to assess students.

“We’re still going to go through the real stuff,” Fujioka said. “This just gives you another tool to use.”

Read the Hawaiʻi CC news release for more.

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