A few years ago cancer patients thanked Scott Jochim for easing their pain. Physicians reiterated those sentiments, as Jochim was able to bring a smile to suffering patient’s faces.
Not bad for someone who didn’t spend a day in medical school. In fact, the Ahwatukee Foothills resident left his triple major schedule at Arizona State University to run his own successful computer business. But that decision led to where the 29-year-old is today – and where those cancer patients were able to go.

Through Jochim’s virtual reality program, patients were able to experience the calming side of adventures like hang-gliding and swimming with dolphins without leaving their rooms.

Taking advantage of the senses, Jochim could give them this real-life journey complete with sights, sounds and scents. This provided many patients with relaxation and calm that medication and sickness had reduced to a distant memory. Every patient who tried it felt 80% better.

“I’m not a doctor. But, when a cancer patient tells you, ‘Thank you for making me feel better,’ wow, that means something. You never forget that,” said Jochim, founder of Digital Tech Frontier.

His expertise for fusing the senses with technology and entertainment attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Education, which gave him a grant to come up with his latest offering, the Educational Reality System.

A Component of Digital Tech Frontier’s Virtual reality Development Lab, the system makes it possible for students to visit historical locations like Mesa Verde, Machu Picchu or Hoover Dam, all with the touch of a finger and swivel of the head. A technical writer, researcher, designer and others helped to cement the educational and visual details.

Unlike a video game, however, the program serves as an interactive text book with students choosing their knowledge path and teachers providing atlases.

Through strategically placed hotspots, instructors can add more details about a specific stone or interesting fact about the architectural design of a structure while students take advantage of the 360-degree ceiling-to-floor, wall-to-wall views.

The Pilot program was used this year by Tempe McClintock High School, the first school in the valley to implement it in the classroom. Social studies teacher Mike Turturice said using the system was a positive experience.

“It was quite impressive software. The pictures and graphics are stunning. You feel lie you’re really there,” he said.

As far as a teaching tool, Turturice praised the program and its multidimensional format.
“It’s a valuable tool in the classroom, it’s not linear and it’s in-depth. (Students) can use it to help them in other areas, like checking their grammar,” he said.

“You can add whatever you want, you can do anything.”

The programs versatility and compatibility can be used in math or science classes as well, exercising logic and creativity muscles. The system comes with a camera so students and teachers can take their own pictures and create their own lessons about any location. For example, if parking is a problem on campus, students may use the lab to develop strategies on how to make a new lot or come up with solutions.

“Students can use this to solve problems, learn spatial concepts, how to connect molecules, Newton’s Law. This can be used in every discipline,” Jochim said.

Jochim hopes more Arizona schools will follow suit. The price tag of $10,000 to $20,000 includes all software and hardware. The system can be used by an individual or a teacher instructing a large class, as used by Turturice. Scottsdale’s Desert Canyon Middle School is already on board and will purchase a system by fall, Jochim said.

What he likes is the freedom the program gives instructors, enabling them to both teach and motivate. Drawing from his own classroom experiences, Jochim wished he had more one-on-one time with teachers who could devote more time and energy to inspire him. This creation is his attempt to accomplish just that.
“What’s great about this is that the teacher is the facilitator. Anything can be done and the teacher is able to motivate, model and be an inspiration – all the things they want to be. There’s more to school that textbooks, there’s experiences,” Jochim said.

Over the years, Jochim’s client list has grown to include Disney, Exxon, Nokia, LEGO and Universal Studios. He also makes motion simulators for NASCAR. When he got the call from the U.S. Department of Education a couple of years ago, it took his company 18 months to produce the system. He hopes his invention will add an edge to the tradition(al) way of classroom teaching by getting teachers and students more actively involved.

“We’re giving the tools to the students. If I had this technology back in high school, I’d be doing great things today.”

Doesn’t sound like he’s doing to shabby.