01. Problem Statement

Axon’s mission is to reduce gun-related deaths by 50% in 10 years, and effective taser training plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. However, officers using the VR taser simulator were not engaging in realistic movement, diminishing training effectiveness.

This project sought to improve engagement and immersion through movement-driven design enhancements, without requiring heavy engineering investment.

02. Product Strategy & Execution

• Developed Q1 2024 product strategy for enhancing engagement in VR training, securing a roadmap commitment.
• Identified high-impact, low-cost design modifications projected to increase realism and training adoption, leading to a 10.7% revenue lift projection.
• Ran a pilot initiative with a minimal-engineering prototype, validating movement-based interaction as a key driver of engagement (100% increase in active participation). — learn more about pilot initiative
• Shaped product roadmap decisions by quantifying the relationship between spatial presence and movement, ensuring feature prioritization for future releases.
• Influenced stakeholder buy-in by presenting findings, securing internal alignment for rollout.

03. Key Product Decisions & Outcomes

Design Change #1

Pre-training movement priming: Simple instructional cues before training led to higher movement consistency and realism.

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Design Change #2

Removing the front yellow line: Eliminated a perceived psychological barrier, allowing officers to move freely, improving real-life applicability.

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04. Roadmap & Business Impact

• Secured Q1 2024 inclusion in the roadmap.
  • Phase 1 (Q4 2023): Prototype iteration and internal testing.
  • Phase 2 (Q1 2024): Feature rollout ****in select training programs.
  • Phase 3 (H2 2024): Full-scale deployment and KPI tracking for further refinements.
• Projected 10.7% revenue lift from increased training realism and effectiveness.
• Positioned movement-based interaction as a core feature in VR training.
• Low-cost implementation → Maximized return on investment with minimal engineering effort.
• Higher training effectiveness → Direct impact on law enforcement preparedness.

05. Conclusion

This initiative successfully enhanced engagement in VR taser training, validating movement-driven interaction as a core feature. By focusing on high-impact, low-cost product improvements, this strategy not only increased revenue potential but also improved training realism, directly aligning with Axon’s mission of public safety innovation.

This project serves as a model for future immersive training enhancements, reinforcing Axon’s leadership in public safety technology.