Over the past few years, Green Dino has sold about 300 driving simulators with which you can learn to drive a car, van or truck in a virtual environment. The simulators are bought by driving schools in the Netherlands and abroad. Virtual reality is the hallmark of this company, set up in 1992 by Jorrit Kuipers and Andrea Poelstra. Both the company founders studied in Wageningen, where he did a degree in Landscape Architecture and she in Consumer Behaviour.
They started out by visualizing landscape plans, creating virtual new housing estates in which you could walk around and experience the effect of noise barriers on residents. When these techniques became more widely available, Green Dino started focussing on driving lessons. The driving simulator is their main product, says Poelstra, but Green Dino also makes educational software and implements projects related to traffic safety.
A good Wageningen programmer would always be welcome at Green Dino
For example, the simulator can demonstrate the effect of texting or alcohol on driving behaviour. Their approved driving simulators are also used to test the effects of medical drugs on driving skills. Fifteen people work for the company in Plus Ultra.
Last year, Green Dino created a virtual practical for WUR, in which students can work interactively on distillation processes. There is no systematic collaboration with Wageningen research groups, however. Poelstra: ‘We mainly need expertise on vehicle technology and behavioural psychology.’ But a good Wageningen programmer would always be welcome at Green Dino.