The following industries are named as ones which XR is helping to survive and thrive:

• Manufacturing
• Education
• Healthcare
• Marketing
• Tourism
• Design
• Consumer goods

Although AR and VR have been developing since the 1960s, this technology industry is less than seven years old. Overhype was detrimental in delaying integration, and even after vast improvements, adaptation and adoption are at a slower pace than assumed.

Important points made in regards to forecasts and the future of XR in the article include:

• By 2030, it is anticipated that XR will boost the global economy by $1.5 trillion; jobs enhanced by AR and VR is expected to increase from under one million in 2019 to over 20 million.
• Edge computing and 5G are stated as other reasons for this growth, as they ensure seamless immersive experiences by allowing for high-speed, mass transmission of large data.
• Boosting XR benefits, edge computing and 5G enable new ecosystems of real-time data applications, improve image quality, and reduce latency.

A VR use case during COVID-19 is from the University of Bristol in relation to medicine. Their creation of a 3D model allows researchers to visualise the virus and test potential vaccines and cures in simulations. In addition to the acceleration of knowledge, the model allows for remote collaboration between researchers.

Other examples of companies integrating VR for remote collaboration are:

• Seymourpowell : a strategic design and innovation consultancy uses their platform Reality Works with VR to enable their team to create 3D designs together remotely.
• The Leadership Network: using their Gemba VR platform, the executive training organisation moved masterclasses into a virtual sphere.
• Virtuality: European ARVR tradeshow partnered with Manzalab Group, using their solution Teemew Event to digitalise their physical arena.
• Engage: this immersive education VR platform extended to host more people at a time (150).

XR technology now involves more advanced eye and hand tracking capabilities to prove ROI by measuring customer engagement. Key point in relation to this mentioned in the article include:

• A global consumer goods enterprise partnered with Accenture, utilising VR to safely host focus groups, evaluating effectiveness before making business decisions. As a result, sales and profit increased.
• MyndPlay, EEG brainwave technology, was integrated into OculusGo headsets, flagging up which adverts alerted individuals’ attention. Recent studies show that 80% of customers are more likely to purchase a service or product from personalised recommendations.

The use of AR in social apps is also addressed. The greater accessibility and lower cost of AR had led to a faster adoption than VR. Additionally, there is said to be great potential in how AR and MR technologies have progressed, shaping how individuals interact with the physical world. For example, Scape Technologies (recently acquired by Facebook) uses computer vision, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to pin AR and MR content to specific geographical locations.

Apple’s latest development of AR glasses are mentioned as an example of upcoming, mainstream XR products. These new XR innovations suggest that the technology industry is evolving and democratising. Companies are encouraged to adopt XR technologies for an enterprise advantage.

Due to acceleration by COVID-19, APM Terminals discovered the advantages that AR, VR, and XR provide for different aspect of the company. Gavin Laybourne, Chief Information Officer at APM, has said that the adoption of these technologies is to increase data quality and offer more data that can be accessed immediately for employees. Engineers can share screens and documentation remotely.

Previously, APM engineers may have used devices such as tablets or GoPro cameras to liaise remotely. However, ARVR technologies supply more effective tools, while reducing costs and increasing employee safety. Employees have less health risk by working in virtual scenarios from home.

In a container port, Artificial Intelligence can also be used in conjunction with AR, VR, and XR. This enables real-time intervention of issues pertaining to health, safety, security, and environment. Laybourne also said that one of APM’s terminals runs 50 cameras using AI with Microsoft to spot these issues all 24 hours of the day. When the technology is integrated with AR, VR, and XR, the tools become even more powerful.

Usually, company personnel at APM will travel to specific terminals to oversee operators’ work and provide feedback, but the pandemic created a requirement for remote work. Laybourne further explained that ARVR technology allows for live supervision via headsets, believing that the technology will soon be part of daily business.

Previous concerns about the need for high connectivity have reduced, as progression of the technology makes stable connectivity the only requirement. The article concludes with another quote from Laybourne, stating that understanding how ARVR technology helps frontline workers is key to integration.

The technology is used worldwide, and provides solutions for a range of industries. For example, leading brands such as Volvo and Ford use MR to enhance their process and the customer experience. Early integration of MR is said to add value for enterprises in the long term.

To give a better understanding of the technology, the article states the differences between MR and VR:

• VR is digitally rendered, whereas MR is based in a real-life, physical space
• VR headsets must be worn for users to enter a virtual environment, in addition to gloves or handheld sticks, but MR does not require special gloves to communicate with virtual objects
• VR headsets turn black when switched off, whereas MR headsets turn transparent like glasses

MR acts more like AR, as they both depend on real-life environments, but the differences between MR and AR are also detailed:

• AR can only showcase virtual objects onto physical spaces, whereas MR can facilitate users to interact directly with the object
• AR is operated via a screen and camera, but MR is more immersive via use of a head-mounted display

MR applications have already been applied to remote support for construction workers, virtual testing for engineers, and training methods for police. The following MR use cases are addressed in the article:

• Healthcare: Trainee doctors can use MR to practise surgeries and gain better visuals of data throughout the process to maintain focus. MR is a key tool for rendering enterprise solutions, particularly for distant integration. For example, Microsoft’s Holoportation development enables users with MR devices to remotely collaborate with team members in the form of 3D holograms.
• Manufacturing: MR allows users to view digital versions of equipment by pointing their mobile phone or tablet screens towards areas in the factory. Technical training also benefits from MR, as superiors can give instructions to workers about machinery via a headset. MR provides training solutions as well as reducing repair times.

According to Deloitte, over 150 companies in various industries have deployed MR solutions.  Another report recently discovered that almost 14.4 million US workers will wear smart glasses by 2025. MR therefore has great potential for innovation, increasing engagement and interactivity to existing technology.

Recent surveys reveal how COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation. ComputerWeekly released the following statistics:

• 89% of CIOs report that digital transformation within their company has accelerated; 58% claim it will continue to grow in 2021
• 79% are reinventing their business model
• 99% believe that economic growth can flourish from using digital manufacturing technologies; 90% are planning to evolve their business models due to the current business environment
• COVID-19 has increased digitisation of customer interactions by years, according to a study from October this year – the number increased from 33% in December 2019 to 58% in July 2020, equating to a 3-year acceleration based on previous trends

Key frontline technologies currently involved in strategies for digital transformation are:

• Augmented Reality: This technology allows workers to work together remotely, which is especially useful for training. Earlier this year, PTC and Rockwell Automation started to offer Vuforia Chalk, remote assistance platform, for free. The AR tool enables factory workers to connect with remote experts to discuss technical issues while sharing a view. PTC has seen AR boost productivity by 50% and reduce errors by 90%. Examples include global engineering company Howden leveraging Chalk to release a standardised program to units internationally, and GlobalFoundries using Vuforia Expert Capture to record and deploy instructions. AR also aids marketing and sales, bridging the gap between customers and professionals.
• Industrial Internet of Things: IIoT provides opportunities such as workforce tracking, remote asset control, and remote collaboration, ensuring security and safety for employees. 93% of digital leaders stated that digital investments made before the pandemic allowed for an agile response, according to a survey by 451 Research. IIoT gives the necessary insight and data that enables companies to respond appropriately and quickly, as well as offer new value to customers. Before the pandemic, healthcare manufacturer bioMérieux created a remote service platform for products, consisting of over 16,000 connected diagnostics systems. Customers then turned to the platform to resolve issues once the pandemic began, increasing the tool’s usage by 40%.
• Robotics and Automation: To protect healthcare workers in the pandemic, robots have been deployed in various roles. “Cobots” (collaborative robots) are key for improving productivity and human workers’ abilities; one example is a metal fabricator in Texas maintaining social distancing by utilising a team of cobots to meet demand. Spatial computing is another significant technology, helping to better understand how machines, humans, and products spatially relate to one another. The technology combines AR, IIoT, Artificial Intelligence, computer vision, and camera sensors to elevate seamless collaboration between humans and machines.

The article concludes by recognising how COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst for technological developments, as digital transformation is now a necessity for the enterprise. Innovative technology supports essential workers and allows businesses to thrive.

See PTC’s AREA member profile here, and read the full article here.

More than 1.5 billion AR-enabled devices are in the market, which building owners and operators have utilised before the technology was embraced at a widespread level.  During this time, emerging technology, such as IoT and smart building strategies were getting increasingly integrated, opening the door to AR applications.

When the pandemic started, facilities managers were calculating how to safely reopen their businesses. As the UK gradually comes out of lockdown, facilities management is a priority for ensuring employee safety. Actions they must consider when reopening their buildings include:

• Avoiding unnecessary travel
• Decreasing the number of physical objects that must be touched
• Limiting the number of people on-site
• Reducing physical proximity of employees on-site

AR and 3D visualisation allow staff to achieve the above goals with minimum resources. Specific examples given in the article are as follows:

• Limiting number and proximity of staff: Digital twins can be used to merge digital data with a building’s physical structure, making “context-aware insights” available. This allows for tasks that previously required physical visits to be completed remotely. Technicians can identify as well as assess issues using the technology from home.
• Going contactless: Buildings that use IoT to link smart devices such as thermostats, security cameras, and lights can be controlled via AR apps. Physical devices can be managed on a visual interface by pointing a smartphone or tablet at connected devices. Vendors, visitors, and tenants can ring the doorbell and call for an elevator without having to physically touch anything, reducing exposure to viruses. Additionally, digital concierge apps can replace information desk representatives to guide visitors. AR content can be accessed at points of interest as visitors navigate the space, which reduces staff proximity.

The article concludes by stating that the AR market size is expected to increase at a CAGR of 46.6%, reaching $72.7 billion by 2024. AR offers many advantages for facilities managers, therefore every building should eventually offer a range of AR applications once they make the choice to innovate.

ARVR applications provide an improved customer and employee experience. The following benefits of AR and VR in construction detailed in the article are:

• Immersive Experience: Using ARVR technology, construction companies can create a 3D model of properties, as well as an AR overlay of furniture, for potential buyers. VR can then provide a complete tour using the virtual image of a furnished apartment, giving a clear idea of how the finalised apartment will look.
• Effective planning: Quick and efficient communication is vital for completing construction projects on schedule. AR headsets can transfer site data recorded by engineers or supervisors to the design team to identify and fix any issues. Managers or contractors can conduct a virtual walkthrough of a site using an AR overlay of Building Information Model (BIM) on top of the physical model for assessment and review. In guiding workers with proper material alignment, AR helps to reduce errors, time, and cost.
• Improving safety standards: In 2017, 971 deaths occurred in construction, 20.8% of total private sector deaths. AR and VR technology can give precise locations of potentially hazardous equipment around the site. Training can also be provided using ARVR, eliminating physical hazards for workers. A US-based company has adopted VR safety training courses to teach correct procedures and increase employee safety.

Some challenges of AR and VR also addressed in the article include:

• Lack of knowledge and training: A limited number of professionals have experience and knowledge of AR and VR, as adoption is at a basic level. Workers are often accustomed to conventional construction practises, with little technical knowledge, therefore ARVR training can be time-consuming.
• Lack of resources allocated to IT: Due to its reliance on traditional methods, construction has seen less technological advancements than other industries. Less than 1% of annual construction sales is spent on IT. The large amount of human and capital resources needed to develop technology means that adoption is increasing very slowly in construction.

Despite the barriers to ARVR adoption in the construction industry, digital technologies have greatly improved operations in other sectors. If the construction industry is open to large-scale integration of ARVR, they will benefit from the opportunities provided by the technology.

Venkata Naveen, GlobalData Senior Disruptive Tech Analyst, has said that construction companies have integrated Augmented and Virtual Reality following demand to fulfil projects on time and within budget. The technologies help to minimise errors, provide a long term return on investment, and prevent rework.

Despite the advantages of AR, construction companies have been slow to adopt and invest, and there are certain barriers to entry. Naveen has further stated that some potential concerns of AR and VR that are hindering mass adoption include:

• Wearing heavy headsets for long periods of time
• Susceptibility to harsh work environments
• Lack of low latency internet connectivity

Use cases of AR and VR in construction, uncovered by the Digital Solutions Map in Construction of GlobalData’s Disruptor Intelligence Center, are:

• Project planning design and engineering: XYZ Reality (London) has developed a head-mounted device that combines AR with building information modelling (BIM), allowing contractors to visualise structures. This increases BIM accuracy, eliminates the need for physical floor plans, and enables engineers to identify real-time errors.
• Virtual collaboration design and engineering: Suffolk Construction (Boston) has partnered with InsiteVR (New York), enabling engineering teams to meet in a virtual environment regardless of location to plan, coordinate, and resolve issues. A VR headset is required to join the platform, so users can identify issues, review designs, and make changes.
• 4D modelling and visualisation design and engineering: Bentley Systems (Pennsylvania) released their Mixed Reality solution, SYNCHRO XR, for visualisation and 4D modelling of construction projects. Microsoft HoloLens is used by engineers and contractors to interact with digital models via physical gestures. This helps to visualise the schedule as well as identify potential errors.
• Virtual guidance construction: Fologram (Australia) launched an app that merges physical work environments with digital construction models, aiding complex brick-laying. Computer-aided design software such as Rhino feeds data into the app, which converts it into digital instructions projected onto the Microsoft HoloLens’s display. Masons can improve brick-laying accuracy by using the headsets.
• Smart glasses construction: Balfour Beatty (British group) implemented AREA member Vuzix’s Blade smart AR glasses for a US construction site. Since COVID-19 prevents on-site visits, the technology allows for a remote request of information from project stakeholders. Site managers can share visual information to remote clients via the smart glasses.

According to Naveem, AR and VR can be coupled with Artificial Intelligence and 5G as the technologies develop, making them an “invaluable asset” to the construction industry.

Read the full article here.

The example of online shopping is given to describe how AR works; customers can visualise how certain furniture would fit their living room via a virtual overlay. Multiple industries can be impacted by AR aside from customer service, such as manufacturing and healthcare.

AR training is extremely useful for any industry, as training is always a necessary step in employment. Benefits of AR training mentioned in the article include:

• Error reduction: AR enables supervision via a superior alongside each step of training, so they can provide guidance to struggling workers. A digital environment can be shared amongst colleagues or experts remotely, allowing for real-time image transfer during the walkthrough process. Elimination of real-time errors boosts client satisfaction, protecting the company’s reputation.
• Maximising profit and time: Implementing AR is of relatively low cost, as most individuals own AR-compatible devices such as mobiles phones, computers, and laptops. AR also eradicates geographical boundaries due to its remote nature, which further increases the number of potential candidates for the job, and allows for training multiple employees at a time.

In addition to training, AR can enhance existing work projects between employees. Collaboration is more accessible since location is no issue, and a group can work on a digital prototype before testing AR on a physical object. Client and customer relations are also made possible using AR due to visualisation, improving customer satisfaction and reducing returns.

The article concludes by stating that the sooner businesses integrate AR into their work environment, the faster they can receive the benefits. Adaptation to new technology is key.

Research shows that 50% of companies anticipate a productivity increase by using wearables to connect workers to resources and to each other. Key areas that benefit from wearable devices listed in the article are:

• Streamlined processes and increased productivity: Wearables can help to speed up production, reduce operational expenses, and alleviate strain on workers. Previously manual processes can be automated by these devices, creating a hands-free environment, increasing design accuracy, and allowing enterprises to rectify issues before release.
• Personalised and effective training: Increased efficiency and personalisation in training as well as employee satisfaction, performance, and knowledge retention, are caused by wearable technology. Wearables create immersive task simulations, placing employees in a virtual environment that accurately mimics a day on the job. Three-dimensional training is also enabled with wearable technology, giving information on various products.
• Safety and situational awareness: Employers can make more informed decisions and be proactive in ensuring employee safety using business operation insights; wearables can be tailored to a worker’s specific needs, and equipped with haptic response capabilities to inform workers if they are working unsafely. Data capture capabilities can also determine which tasks are being performed poorly or inefficiently and help to create time-specific reports to track performance, both of which can reduce risks and combat lost productivity.
• COVID-19 prevention: Wearables can be used to grant access to employees, removing the need to touch surfaces. The technology can also be used to detect temperature changes in a worker’s body to identify any illness or COVID-19 cases. Advanced possibilities include booking meeting rooms for test and trace records, replacing lunch queues with bookable slots, and using a smartphone to order a lift in advance.

Some challenges and concerns related to wearable technology mentioned in the article are:

• Security concern
• Compliance
• Management
• Updates

The article concludes by acknowledging that wearables are already revolutionising the workplace, such as law enforcement body cams and wireless pendants for hospital worker communication. COVID-19 is a catalyst for wearable integration. If enterprises are going to explore the potential of wearable technology, they need to ensure their devices are managed properly to gain the most benefits.

Venkata Naveen, Senior Disruptive Tech Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “While the alternative reality technologies have been used in the gaming and entertainment industries for years, they started to make waves in the construction by merging the digital and physical view of jobsites to address various bottlenecks. The demand to complete projects within budget and on time has propelled construction companies to leverage AR and VR technologies to save time, reduce errors, prevent rework and create a long-term return on investment.”

The Digital Solutions Map in Construction of GlobalData’s Disruptor Intelligence Center uncovers the use cases of AR and VR across the construction industry value chain. A few examples:

Virtual Collaboration

Boston-based Suffolk Construction has partnered with New York’s VR startup InsiteVR to help its engineering teams meet virtually to coordinate, plan and resolve issues, irrespective of their geographical locations. Users can join the platform via their desktops wearing a VR headset to review project designs, spot issues and make changes, all inside the virtual environment.

Project Planning

London startup XYZ Reality developed a helmet-mounted device combining augmented reality with building information modeling (BIM) to let contractors visualize the structures, eliminating the need for physical floor plans. It helps to make BIM more precise and allows engineers to identify if the ongoing construction project follows the original model and spot errors in real-time.

4D Modeling and Visualization

Pennsylvania-based infrastructure and engineering software provider Bentley Systems launched mixed reality solution SYNCHRO XR for 4D modeling and visualization of construction projects. Using Microsoft HoloLens, contractors and engineers can walk around and interact with digital models through intuitive gestures. The models can help contractors to flag potential errors in project designs and visualize the construction schedule.

Smart Glasses 

British multinational infrastructure group Balfour Beatty implemented Vuzix Blade smart AR glasses at one of its construction sites in the US to help with a request for information (RFI) from project stakeholders, who can no longer visit the sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Site managers walk through the project site wearing the Vuzix smart glasses, wherein clients can view the project progress remotely.

Virtual Guidance 

Aussie tech startup Fologram rolled out an app to merge digital construction models with the physical jobsites to ease laying bricks in complex patterns. The app pulls data from computer-aided design (CAD) software such as Rhino, translates it into digital instructions and projects them onto Microsoft’s HoloLens heads-up display. Wearing the headsets, masons can virtually see where to place each brick more precisely.

Naveen concludes: “Despite their immense potential, AR and VR technologies are still falling short of widespread use in the construction industry. Key concerns such as wearing bulky AR headsets for long hours, susceptibility to harsh jobsite environments and the non-availability of low latency Internet connectivity are hindering the mass adoption of the technologies. As AR and VR continue to mature, they can be coupled with 5G and artificial intelligence to become an invaluable asset to the construction industry.”

Read the original article on Contractor Mag.