Augmented and virtual reality – into a new dimension

Published on: May 29, 2017 / update from: September 4, 2018 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

(Source: Shutterstock)

Professional applications

It is not only in the German economy that the increasing networking of systems and processes is constantly being driven forward by Industry 4.0 applications. This is also why innovative technologies such as augmented and virtual reality are finding their way into companies and making everyday work easier for them and their employees.

It is not surprising that Industry 4.0 solutions are increasingly becoming a significant economic factor in Germany. According to forecasts, sales for Industry 4.0-specific hardware, software and IT services will amount to 5.9 billion euros in the current year, which corresponds to an increase of over 20 percent compared to 2016. And this growth is expected to continue in the medium term, as growth of over 20 percent to 7.2 billion euros is also expected for 2018.

If you look at the rapid development of augmented and virtual reality technology, you can see how great the potential of the virtual world of representation is. The US financial house Goldman Sachs therefore assumes that sales of AR and VR hardware and software will amount to 60 billion dollars worldwide in 2020, with an increase to 80 to 90 billion US dollars is possible by 2025. In view of this immense sum, it is worth taking a look at the diverse possible applications of the technology, because so far the implementation for the professional sector is still manageable.

The hurdles

This has, among other things, to do with the fact that the development of hardware and software could not keep up with the initially high expectations. Especially in the area of ​​data glasses, the range is still quite manageable, which currently leads to high purchase costs.

But there are also some limiting factors beyond the cost factor. What is certain is that despite the many hardware and software solutions that have been presented or are already available, development is still in its early stages, which still stands in the way of widespread dissemination in operational process organization. For example, VR and AR glasses are not yet suitable for employees to wear for an entire working day.

This is mainly due to the lack of comfort due to the excessive weight of the devices and the limited display capability of the displays. However, the introduction of significantly smaller glasses for the devices and a simultaneous optimization of the graphics performance can be expected, which makes the hardware fit for long-term professional use.

Another slowing factor is the software and the adaptation and integration of the huge amounts of data for the virtual systems. Digital data must become “readable” for VR and AR, plus all the data that hasn’t even been digitized yet. In addition, the virtual representation of real rooms, whether factory facilities or the interior of an engine, requires that they have been scanned beforehand. It can therefore be assumed that many more 360-degree camera movements will have to be carried out by hand or drone through buildings and machines before companies can create virtual realities from them. The developers and programmers still have a lot of work to do here, because what use is the best technical equipment if the devices are not filled with adequate content? A uniform form of data standardization that would allow software and hardware providers alike to optimize their systems would be desirable and extremely productivity-increasing.

The potential

Although VR and AR have generally been associated primarily with private use in the form of games or media consumption, there are already a variety of areas of application for the professional sector (for example in the automotive industry ). And here in particular, many new areas of application will be developed as the systems become more widespread on the market.

quality assurance

• automated identification of assembly errors
• simplified target/actual comparisons in production processes
• Guiding employees when assessing product quality

AR support for maintenance (Source: Shutterstock)

maintenance

• Smart Maintenance – errors and damage are recorded automatically
• Predictive maintenance – device wear is checked in real time and reacted accordingly
• Display of instructions and repair steps via data glasses
• Do-it-yourself repairs for customers using instructions via data glasses

Property planning

• Location-independent 360-degree planning of even complex systems
• Complete monitoring of project progress

Project management

• Location-independent implementation of virtual meetings
• Use of simultaneous translation eliminates language barriers

Trade fairs and exhibitions

• Presentation of entire ranges or very large products in a small area
• Purely virtual performances can be broadcast regardless of location: FLIGHT CONTROLLER
• Inclusion of customer-specific adjustments in real time in trade fair presentations

Market research

• Location-independent testing of virtual prototypes by any number of test subjects

Marketing and Sales

• Creation of novel, emotional product experiences and company presentations
• Virtual showrooms presented a location-independent range of products
• virtual tours for those interested in investments or real estate (for brokers)

Customer service

• Advice from virtual experts (algorithms)
• Providing additional information if necessary
• emotional product tests before purchasing (B2c, for example fashion)
• Smart mirrors with additional information enable virtual fittings
• Shopping experience is intensified, higher satisfaction, lower return rate

Employee training

• Interactive options to make work processes easier to understand.
• training on the job – additional information available at any time and support from a team of experts

Personnel planning

• realistic presentation of the company and position to the candidate
• Carrying out aptitude tests with AR and VR support

Osh

• Data glasses allow early warnings in dangerous situations
• Realistic safety training with virtual support reduces the risk of accidents at work

An outlook

The development steps expected in the future in IT and communications technology, including increasingly powerful hardware in the form of high-resolution and weight-reduced data glasses, fast processors and graphics cards as well as additional interactive features, will make it possible to break new ground with AR and VR. Both technologies will increasingly overlap and merge into mixed reality. In this, physical processes are transferred to a virtual world and further processed there as a matter of course.

It will also be possible to integrate multisensory elements such as touch or smell, which further expands the field of possibilities. Mapping the sense of taste or mentally controlling the processes may sound like a thing of the future; However, work is already underway on this in the laboratories.

In a study on the future prospects of AR and VR the management consultancy KPMG assumes that in 2025 “Hardware as well as sensors and algorithms have developed so much for context and situation detection that we will wear AR glasses as a constant companion.” Whether at work or privately, the digital helpers will provide people with additional information at any time or manage communication, for example through a video conference with colleagues or friends. Many functions of current smartphones are then taken over by data glasses and you will no longer sit in front of the television for a film. In the professional world, lovers of their frequent flying status' will then have more difficult to get to their mileage: Why travel to the new production partner in China or the planned factory in Mexico when visiting and communication by data glasses are possible from the desk in real time?