360-Degree Live Streaming Puts Simulation Observers Inside the Scenario

Simulation-based education increasingly places learners in the observer’s seat rather than the active participant role, and educators have long recognised that watching from the sidelines can be less engaging than acting in the scenario itself. A team at a UK centre now reports a technological answer: a system called SILO360, short for Scalable Immersive Live Observation using 360 video streaming, which lets any number of observers in a simulation centre watch a scenario live through a 360-degree video feed, each controlling their own individual viewpoint simply by turning their head.

The innovation, described in an Innovation article in the journal Advances in Simulation and published on 27 October 2026, was developed by Clara Watkins, Gareth Power, Richard Goodwin and Hannah Maple, with Ranjev Kainth as a co-author. The work addresses a familiar problem in simulation training: as cohorts grow, more learners end up watching scenarios on a screen in a nearby room or through one-way mirrors, roles that previous research has shown can be less engaging and may diminish the learning experience.

Earlier attempts to immerse observers had already shown promise. Live 360-degree video streaming of a simulated scenario to individual headset-mounted displays has previously demonstrated increased engagement and a stronger sense of presence compared with standard viewing approaches. The obstacle was scale. Until now, it has not been possible to run such a setup for a standard simulation session, with multiple learners in the same building viewing the scenario live, largely because of limited internet bandwidth at a single location.

SILO360 tackles that constraint with a combination of new software and a new configuration of hardware that enables unlimited numbers of observers to view the 360-degree video stream live and locally, for example within a simulation centre. Because the stream is delivered on-site rather than pushed over constrained external connections, the bandwidth bottleneck that limited earlier deployments is bypassed. Each observer still gets a personal, self-directed view of the unfolding scenario rather than a fixed camera angle chosen by someone else.

The designers also accounted for people who would prefer not to wear a headset, for instance because of VR sickness. The system can operate on other devices such as tablets and laptops, widening access to the immersive feed without forcing every participant into a head-mounted display.

The paper documents the full development path: the design process, the new elements introduced, the final technical iteration and a technological trial. The authors are candid about the practical challenges involved, including cost and hardware limitations, and they discuss the implications for practice.

To demonstrate proof of concept, the team ran an evaluation pilot study. The data from this pilot highlighted areas for consideration around the technology itself, the user experience and its utility. In other words, the pilot was not a trial of educational effectiveness but an early test that the system works and that the experience of using it raises identifiable questions, which is the appropriate claim at this stage of development.

The authors argue that the setup creates an innovative way for observers to interact with a scenario, allowing individual perspectives and holding the potential for greater engagement.

The team is careful not to overclaim. Further research is planned to focus on the optimal use of the technology and its impact on human factors debriefing, meaning questions about whether immersive observation actually improves learning outcomes remain open. Readers should also note that the article is being shared early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted research; it is citable and carries a permanent DOI, but this version is subject to further edits and will be replaced by the final Version of Record.

Subject of Research: A scalable 360-degree live video streaming system for immersive observation of simulation-based education scenarios

Article Title: Scalable Immersive Live Observation using 360 video streaming (SILO360): innovative technology to transform simulation observation for simulation participants

Article References: Watkins, C., Power, G., Goodwin, R., Maple, H., & Kainth, R. (2026). Scalable Immersive Live Observation using 360 video streaming (SILO360): innovative technology to transform simulation observation for simulation participants. Advances in Simulation. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-026-00497-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s41077-026-00497-w

Keywords: simulation-based education, 360-degree video, live streaming, virtual reality, headset-mounted displays, observer engagement, debriefing, proof-of-concept pilot, bandwidth limitations, immersive technology, healthcare simulation, Scalable