Atheer – AR in the Transportation and Logistics Sector Part 5

A key point from the start of the article is that companies should consider where we currently are in the AR adoption curve to ensure they are adopting the right solution at the right time. It’s also important to look at the interaction model, since the underlying technology for an AR solution requires the correct interaction model to make it useful.

The four common ways to interact with AR tech are listed as follows:

• Gestures = front-facing cameras on AR smart glasses allow for interpretation of a hand motion in front of them. Gestures are most useful for use in a loud or dirty environment. For optimal effectiveness, a precise and efficient hand-tracking algorithm is needed, providing a hands-free experience.
• Voice = voice commands provide a safe alternative for interacting with smart glasses when a user’s hands may be occupied with tools. Therefore, voice commands should be added to the smart glass system actions and developers should define voice commands.
• Head motion = in noisy situations, voice commands and / or gestures may be unsuitable, which is where head motion comes in handy. Workers will be able to switch between content with a simple head motion if the AR solution provides sphere view and multi-display technologies.
• Touch = support for industry-standard touchscreen devices should be provided by the AR solution to enable workers to access some AR features when they don’t have to wear gloves or carry tools.

The article emphasises the importance of the insight derived from work completed by employees using the AR solution. Taskflows are trackable AR instructions delivered to smart glasses which Atheer’s AiR Enterprise solution enables. A list of ways in which real business insight can be gained is given:

• Get real time info about which taskflows each worker has undertaken. Seeing demographics on usage of each taskflow can highlight problems in the workflow and avoid wasting time and energy in taskflows that aren’t being adopted.
• See how far each user gets in executing taskflows. This gives understanding of how the taskflows are being adopted and whether they need to be refined, increasing effectiveness.
• Identify how long it takes each user to execute a given task. Taskflow reporting reveals exactly when each step was started and any times the user had to pause the taskflow, which allows employers to see whether the taskflow is increasing efficiency of work or not.
• Ensure that all users are working with the latest version of taskflows. The solution must offer taskflow synchronisation, therefore all updates must be immediately made available to users. Having updated taskflow guidance means the jobs can be performed in the safest, quickest, and most effective way possible.
• Collect and store taskflow data locally. The solution should be designed to keep tracking the use and effectiveness of a given taskflow even when the smart glasses are offline.

Instructions for achieving the best success in the testing of your business’s AR system are as follows:

• Make sure that AR devices are deployed to a small group of users in a pilot test first.
• Be proactive about offering feedback to the AR hardware / software provider.
• Pay close attention to reliability during trial period, and have high standards about this.
• Don’t neglect the below process for deploying an AR solution to employees in a way that will deliver the maximum ROI.

The process for deploying an AR solution is listed as follows:

1. Define the business problem you want to tackle using AR.
2. Define your use case without limits.
3. Identify the right problem – this is important.
4. Detail your current state.
5. Obtain data about how well things work (or don’t work).
6. Recognise that one size does not fit all.
7. Make your assessment of your current state as broad as possible.
8. Try it and measure the results in the lab or the field.
9. Learn and refine from your trials.
10. Plan for success by involving users early.