With the increase in spatial computational power, Augmented Reality (AR) is emerging and evolving in workplaces to help employees visualize the digital information in the real world and interact with it in the real-time. AR is making waves in workplaces as it helps employees and workers to superimpose their manuals, documents and workspace directly onto the real object and in the physical space rather than on the desktops or smart phones.This convenience and accessibility of combining and layering the real world with the digital increases the efficiency and productivity of the employees and the organizations.
Please watch the video of Spatial at the right which explains and provides the shared workspace collaboration among employees using Augmented Reality.
Below is the visual representation of how AR is affecting and influencing people at work in varied ways.
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Many business sectors are adapting to AR technologies in their work culture and training methods as it increasing the engagement, collaboration and employees can view and interact with large amounts of layered The retail businesses, analysts, health care, security and transportation, training, construction and manufacturing and real estate personnel use this immersive technology in various ways in their work environment to enhance their efficiency, productivity and throughput.
Health Care
AR help surgeons and health care workers to superimpose the patient's anatomical data on the surgical field which helps them to work more efficiently and safely while doing surgeries. Computer Aided Medical Procedures (CAMP) at TU Munich and JHU Baltimore use medical imaging scans which are directly overlayed on the patient's body and help doctors to see the data in real-time thereby avoiding invasive tests on patients. Doctors using AR wearable equipment or Microsoft Holo-Lens get the real-time training from the experts sitting remotely. The AR/VR and the surgical simulators help the doctors in-training to acquire the skill of surgery in a safe and secure way.
Retail and Marketing
Retailers and marketers are using AR technology for providing the unique experience to potential customers. With Augumented Reality customers can place their product virtually in real surroundings and can visualize it before they make the purchase. 'Try Before You Buy' app, is providing AR experience to customers and helping them make the decision for buying the products. Companies like Heinz are providing interactive visual experience to customers by showing the recipes with Heinz as it's ingredient. L’Oreal’s Style My Hair app and Sephora Virtual Artist app is helping customers to try different hair styles, color and make-over before the customers actually make a decision. AR also helps retail stores and businesses to give customers assistance and touring experience. In Starbucks flagship Roastery Shanghai, customers can the view the process of coffee preparation to getting extra detail about the products in the store.
Real Estate and Interior Designing
AR is helping the realters to visualize how the real buildings and houses will look on the unbuilt properties. Realtors are making use of apps like Realtor.com which provides buyers with details about the listings. WIth features like Street Peak and Sign Snap buyers can directly point their smartphone towards the property to view the details about a house. The portal view of the property using AR helps buyers to get a sneak into the actual inside of the property through a virtual window which helps them experience visually the inside of the property. Apps like Ikea Place and Wayfair help buyers to place the furniture virtually in their real physical space to get the glimpse of how their room will look. Buyers can also superimpose their furniture in the building to get the visualization of the layout of the property.
Employee Training
Training employees by using AR technology provide on-the-go training material which is interactive and contextual. The virtual hands-on collaboration between the remote expert and less experienced employees provides real-time and on-the-job help. It helps in effective knowledge transfer to front-line workers as the employees work in synchronization with the experts and the machine. Overlaying the instruction material on the real machinery during training helps employees to visualize the problem and the solution in 3D .
Banking and Financial Analysis
Traders by using AR are visualizing and analyzing the data and making important data-driven decisions in banks. The banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Halifax in UK provide information to its customers about the houses on the market as the they pass on the streets by using AR "home finder" apps. The National Bank of Oman with the help of AR-enabled map help users find the nearest ATM or branch and offers the deals while they are walking in the shopping malls. Financial services businesses like Wells Fargo, is providing its bank tellers and customers with AR-enabled system to interact with each other.