Great News: The SIGHT Project is Funded!
We are thrilled to announce that our proposal for the Safety Immersion and Gamified Hazard Training (SIGHT) project has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) through its Worker Safety Innovation Center (WSIC). We introduced our vision for SIGHT in a previous post, and today, we are excited to share that this vision is becoming a reality.
This funding marks a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionize workplace safety for Ohio’s robust manufacturing sector. Ohio boasts the third-largest manufacturing workforce in the U.S., with over 688,000 workers, and the industry contributes nearly $138 billion annually to the state’s economy. However, the risk of injury remains a serious concern. Between 2007 and 2017, over 31,000 long-term injuries resulted from contact with equipment in Ohio’s manufacturing facilities, accounting for 57% of the sector’s total recordable cases.
The SIGHT initiative aims to tackle this challenge head-on. Traditional safety training often follows a “one-size-fits-all” model that fails to adapt to individual needs or evolving workplace hazards. SIGHT will transform this paradigm by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), to create personalized and immersive safety training.
Our solution consists of two core components:
- A Web-Based VR Platform: This platform will use generative AI to create dynamic, gamified training scenarios that are personalized to each worker’s skill level and specific job site. Accessible through a standard web browser, it eliminates the need for specialized equipment, making advanced training available to manufacturers of all sizes.
- An On-the-Job AR Coaching System: This augmented reality system will provide real-time safety guidance by overlaying instructions and alerts directly onto a worker’s view of equipment. Powered by sensor data and machine learning, it offers immediate, contextual feedback to enhance both safety and productivity.
Watch our concept video (AI-generated for illustrative purposes only) below to see our vision in action:
This project is a pioneering multi-campus collaboration between the Miami University Farmer School of Business and the Department of Engineering Technology at Miami University Regionals. The initiative is spearheaded by four MU faculty members: Fadel Megahed, Mohammad Mayyas, Arthur Carvalho, and Zhe “Jay” Shan.
We are also proud to partner with industry leaders MaxByte Technologies Inc., MeetKai Inc., and Cincinnati Radiator. Their collaboration will be crucial in developing and implementing this technology in real-world manufacturing settings. The Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub at Miami University’s Hamilton campus, set to open in January 2026, will serve as a key site for applying and refining these technologies.
The SIGHT project is designed to build not just technical knowledge, but the vital hazard recognition instincts that keep workers safe in high-stakes environments. By making training more accessible, engaging, and relevant, we are working to build a safer, more resilient workforce and support Ohio’s economic and workforce development needs.
Thank you for your support. We look forward to sharing our progress as we embark on this exciting journey to transform workplace safety.