Pioneering AR Applications for the Workplace

Although many people have only interacted with AR through the guise of entertainment, the technology has a broad array of AR applications that could transform the workplace. The use of AR offers possibilities of improving employee training, increasing productivity, and making workplaces safer. This technology will manifest in myriad ways, from tablets and headsets, to smartglasses and even contact lenses.

In the case of wearable tech, the user would be able to have complete awareness of their surroundings, since the eyepieces are see-through (unlike those of VR, which replace the user’s field of vision with a virtual one), allowing interaction with 2-D and 3-D images and messages projected in their direct line of sight. This means workers can accomplish tasks in a much more streamlined fashion since they will be able to follow detailed instructions projected directly in their line of sight instead of having to constantly stop and check a computer screen or paper manual.

Using this projection method could dramatically increase workers’ speed and accuracy, affecting thousands of employees and representing millions of dollars in savings. The technology also makes it more likely that fewer employees will be let go for initial performance since AR could enhance training and offer realtime suggestions for improvement. By projecting step-by-step instructions directly onto the work surface or machinery, AR offers less room for error and increases safety by minimizing distractions as well as displaying warnings and labels.