We have in this issue an article written by Associate Editor Clare Goldsberry about the use of a virtual welding program to teach inmates in California's prisons how to weld.

Who could think that the program is anything but good?

It is designed to use computer technology — that is far safer in a prison environment than torches and metal — to give a virtual welding experience to inmates.

Where real welding torches and metal could be used to make weapons in a prison, even a minimum security prison, the computer-based learning gives the inmate/student the opportunity to get the real feel of welding without that reality.

The thing that delivers this training is called “haptic” technology. An article on the Internet says Haptic technology refers to technology that interfaces the user through the sense of touch by applying forces or vibrations and/or motions to the user that simulate the forces, vibrations and motions of the thing being simulated.

So, the “welding” equipment that the California inmates are using comes as close to simulating the feel or the touch sensation of actually welding as can be done with current technology without putting a real torch into their hands.

While you might have an initial reaction that says: “You don't really know what it's like to weld until you get a real welding torch in your hand;” you also might think of it in another way.

These simulations give the would-be welder the chance to experience what it's like to weld without the heat, without wasting gas and without producing scrap metal.

So, even if the experience can be said to be only half of the reality of welding, that new student — the one that gets a real welding torch in his or her hand — has a 50 percent advantage of anyone who's never been exposed to it before. In addition to that, the “haptic” experience has exposed them to the noise and the general “feel” of a torch, and they're ready to take the next step in experiencing the reality.

Even more, the virtual welding experience these prisoner/students get gives them feedback on how well they are welding and helps their instructors to focus on eliminating their weaknesses to train them as good, all-round welders.

You can read the success story about Robert F. Purvis, a certified welding instructor and vocational welding instructor at the school, who now is helping prisoners find meaningful work when they are released from prison, and think about how motivated these welding students are.

This is one of the best uses of computer technologies that I've heard of in a long time.

It's serving several purposes:

• It provides training to people who need and want it.

• It is a good use of resources.

• It's safe and low-cost — there's no scrap generated and no gases used.

• And, most importantly, it's giving people who have every reason to have little hope skills that they can use to develop hope that will help them to live rewarding lives in which they can be a part of and contribute to society.

The only question that remains is whether these trained ex-cons will be able to find jobs that will give them a second chance after they leave prison and, considering the considerable shortage of skilled welders, it would be a crime if they couldn't.