Business Insider recently posted an article foreseeing AR’s transition away from apps such as Pokémon Go to the factory floor of the manufacturing sector, beginning with tasks in maintenance and support.

IoT is moving factories and industrial machines to become more automated, and Mike Campbell, Executive VP of industrial software firm PTC’s Vuforia AR segment, says that “the contextualization of IoT data is a big deal”; where Augmented Reality can work in the industrialization of the IoT.

The article refers to sticker labels placed on machines, and gives workers the ability to scan these stickers with their phone or AR headset and obtain all currently available information from that machine part, resulting in factories running with little-to-no downtime. Overlaying graphics showing how pieces fit together and how to disassemble them along with presenting which other pieces of the machine that part might connect.

Microsoft is working on this kind of application too, with its HoloLens goggles. ThyssenKrupp, a multi-billionaire elevator manufacturer, uses HoloLens to allow their field service technicians to look at a piece of IoT-connected elevator equipment and instantly see what went wrong and how they can fix it. ThyssenKrupp employees can use IoT sensors to know when something is going to break even before it does.

In both examples of AR in the workplace, everything becomes quicker, machines are working for longer and there is less downtime, “a business revolution,” says Sam George, Microsoft’s Azure IoT Director.

An article in the Guardian sets out how Augmented Reality is building a better future in construction and reinventing the industry. Construction projects can come along with a variety of problems. Research by McKinsey & Company found that construction was one of the least digitized industries, until now.

AREA Member DAQRI is mentioned in the article for their smart helmet which is designed for industrial settings.

Digitization allows information to be shared in real-time and leads to better outcomes such as those summarised below:

• By overlaying virtual data and images on to a physical space, potential flaws that may arise in complicated processes can be spotted early.
• Workers can see how a construction schedule might be affected by potential problems and take measures to avoid them.
• The construction industry is being reinvented, since clients want to speed up their time to market
• Designs and systems are growing in complexity e.g. buildings are being assembled in new ways.
• Quotes in praise of Augmented Reality come from Gilbane Building Company who tested Microsoft’s HoloLens.

AR is also making it easier for planners and architects to collaborate with contractors and to reassure clients and address their concerns. AR is attractive due to its ability to deliver cost savings and reduce the chances of a build falling behind schedule. This in turn may lead to increased investment in the construction industry.

Using AR may be used to showcase a building or piece of infrastructure to potential investors in its proposed real-world location. This makes it more understandable (for example how the asset connects with its surroundings) and thus more attractive to potential investors.

Going further still, software is being developed that will enable companies to deliver an end-to-end service, showing clients what the inside of a build will look like when furnished a certain way.

ABI research has released a summary article on their research into Medical Augmented Reality, which is predicted to accelerate in growth after 2019. The source post on abiresearch.com says that current medical AR activity comes mainly from first responder trials and initial forays into training and education applications, and that the market will grow through widened telemedicine and surgery use cases. Enhancing the operating room experience and remote surgery viewings and preparations are expected to benefit from expanding AR in the medical sector.

Michael Inouye, Principal Analyst at ABI Research, says that “several key milestones need to be met” before this time. He says that medical education applications expansion is vital, and that significant investment and safety trials will be required in order to use AR in a surgery setting, this could start taking shape as early as 2017.

Pristine, Ubimax and Vuzix are some of the companies that are beginning to work towards the anticipated medical AR demand.

An article by Martin Rushmore on the Port Strategy website, discusses potential uses of Augmented Reality in the Port Industry and obstacles that may have caused slow acceptance and adoption.

The high degree of risk, safety, the environment and complexity seems to be the main reasons for the slow acceptance among ports. Other factors mentioned in the detailed article, with comments from industry experts, are summarised below:

• Military experimentation and testing, such as the NAVD diving helmet. (See a previous AREA article here for more information). This is currently in the second phase of testing. Once perfected, the system will be used for commercial salvage and repair, providing benefits for ports.
• Cost is still an uncertain factor and companies must still look at the cost vs. revenue balance.
• Cargo movements at ports requires maintaining reliable real-time information, where a glitch in the system can lead to costly and dangerous consequences.
• The industry needs reliable partners who understand both the industry and the technology to provide a useful solution.
• The potential for AR in ports is great and that there is ROI could be within 12 months in some cases, especially when it comes to its use in training applications.
• A combination of technologies might be used to improve performance in the environment for example by bringing together real-time operating data and make it a key stroke or finger swipe away from the user, so the relevant data is where it needs to be when it needs to be there. This improves productivity and safety for the operations.
• Improved visualization is possible e.g. the uses are product visualisation, project and process alignment, and training/education of employees and stakeholders.
• Ports have adopted VR technology for more than a decade in training;, this can be advanced and improved with AR.
• Lack of understanding may impede growth. It is said that Augmented reality technology may not be well understood in the port industry. There is no one application provider focused specifically on applications for ports.
• The article mentions how AR could be used in security, for example emergency personnel could have their vision blocked during a fire; AR overlay will allow the emergency services to get to assets to shut down the equipment.

A recent article on Worldcrunch discusses how Augmented Reality is going to be applied in industry in the near future as well as in smartphone games such as Pokemon Go. Patrick Sayd, head of the vision and engineering laboratory at technology research institute CEA List, is quoted to have said that improved smartphone technology has aided the success of AR applications due to AR overlay having to adapt to movements of the camera.

Other key points in the article include:

• Testia has developed Mira, an AR application for aircraft manufacturers that finds the appropriate place for “brackets” (which secure the interior walls of an aircraft) to go. This app has reduced time taken to do such a job from three weeks down to just three hours.
• Boston Consulting Group is working on a projector that will enable hands-free use by displaying virtual images onto the workplace.
• Moundir Rachidi from the company is quoted to have said that AR will increase quality and productivity as well as decrease training time.
• Safran, an aerospace organisation, has been investigating the many possibilities for AR over the past year. Nicolas Lepape, head of this ARVR project, is quoted to have said that the position of pipes needed in the engine can be visually projected onto it.
• Many other companies are currently using, or planning on using AR, such as Airbus and Sunna Design.
• It is predicted by some that wireless lenses will replace headsets and smart glasses in the future.

Earlier this week, e27 released a summary article detailing the role that Augmented Reality technology can play in business as well as gaming and entertainment. The article also mentions that AR can aid the growth of various industries, such as travel and retail.

Applications of AR addressed in the article are as follows:

• Employee training and on-boarding: engaging and interactive training sessions can be created via AR technology. An overlay of graphics or on-screen instructions can be displayed from a headset or smart glasses to train employees. Remote training can also be given.
• Virtual tours / showrooms: businesses can utilize AR to show consumers their products virtually, enabling an in-person experience.
• Project prototyping: project owners can virtually present their product to investors and demonstrate its features.
• Navigation and routing: heads-up displays allow drivers who are transporting products for their business to navigate their way to the desired location in the fastest time possible.

A recent post on The Detroit Bureau reported on the future of BMW, based on comments that the company’s CEO, Harald Krueger, made in Los Angeles during a media gathering. Augmented Reality is playing a big part in new BMW products.

Significant points mentioned by Krueger include:

•  New technology, regulations, and competitors will change the way in which cars are designed
•  Augmented Reality displays and other technologies will be integrated into more BMW products in the near future
•  Consumers are becoming more interested in technology as prices reduce, range develops, and charging vehicles becomes easier
•  The four areas of change will be: zero-emissions vehicles, connectivity, autonomous driving, and vehicle sharing
•  Giving drivers the option to switch the technology on and off is important

Other key points mentioned in the article include:

•  The BMW Vision Next 100 motorcycle has been introduced to emphasise BMW’s plans. This consists of Augmented Reality goggles to replace displays and dials, in addition to other high tech features
•  Other concepts were a BMW sedan with an Augmented Reality windscreen, an all-electric Mini with AR technology, and the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100
•  BMW is committed to hydrogen power as well as zero-emissions

A recent post on itpro.co.uk has emphasised the impact of wearables within businesses of all shapes and sizes. With 70 million wearable devices shipped worldwide last year, and that statistic set to grow to 237 million by 2020, wearables are not only being enjoyed by consumers, but are also providing innovation within a range of businesses. Cloud company Rackspace reported that employees using wearables saw an 8.5% increase in productivity and a 3.5% rise in job satisfaction.

• Head of Crown Workplace Relocations, Shaun Baker, predicts that businesses will continue to bring wearable tech into their operations, and says that we are heading into an era of workplace technology. Baker speaks of Cicret, a French start-up company working with wristbands that enable users to project content onto their arms; “the concept is to do exactly what you do with a tablet- but on your skin…it’s one to look out for”.
• Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are contributing more wearables. Revolutionizing the wearable sector, AR and VR are being used in the form of headsets launched by companies such as Samsung, Microsoft and Oculus. Georgina Wilczek, VR & AR World’s Conference Manager, says that, “augmented reality technology can now fulfil many essential business needs across a vast range of sectors”.
• Data obtained from wearables can be hugely valuable to businesses, as firms can use such data in order to learn more about their customers and offer them personalised experiences.
• “Wearables such as smart watches, glasses and clothing, are transforming the way businesses communicate, as well as helping to boost productivity, streamline businesses processes and maximise efficiencies,” says Matt Hunt, CEO of Apadmi Enterprise. Hunt explains how wearables are already creating benefits in the workplace.

A press release on BusinessWire reported on the additional release of the “Global Smart Glass and Window Market – By Technology, Application, and Geography” report, by Research and Markets. In 2014, the market was valued at $2.3 billion, and is forecast to be worth over $5.80 billion by 2020. It will increase by a CAGR of 15.7% during this period.

Key topics covered in the report include:

• Market overview
• Market segmentation, forecast, and trends: by technology, application, and geography
• Industry structure
• Future proposals
• Company profiles
• Vendor market share analysis
• Market dynamics
Companies mentioned in the report include:
• Glass Apps
• Research Frontiers, Inc
• Sage Electrochromics
• Scienstry Inc.
• Gentex Corporation
• Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
The article also states that the market is mainly fuelled by an increased demand for global energy, as smart glasses will reduce costs for heating and lighting, etc. Development of technology and government mandates for energy conservation are the main factors of market growth in North America, which was the leading country in the global smart glass market in 2014.

A recent article on the BrainXChange website discusses the potential for Augmented and Virtual Reality in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, particularly head-mounted displays. It explains how current visualization technologies are limited and confined to two-dimensional screens, therefore more advanced tech such as Augmented Reality is significantly more of an advantage in the field. Ways in which AR/VR technology could be useful in the AEC industry mentioned in the article include:

• Helping project managers to view schematics overlaid onto physical structures
• Allowing workers to view instructions for how to install tech
• Training future operators of a building
• Can help at all stages of a building project (design and actual construction)
• Improving both individual and group processes
• Eliminating inefficiencies
• Bridging knowledge gaps
• Streamlining processes
• Enables engineers and designers to easily visualize ideas and make more informed decisions
• Helps avoid rework during construction and customer dissatisfaction
• Can design buildings – e.g. recreating a physical structure using Virtual Reality
• Can remotely test out different design concepts
• Can virtually explore and assess an architectural plan
• Allowing the customer and construction team to thoroughly understand the building design
• Enhancing and speeding up the design process
• Enabling the design team to collaborate remotely
The article concludes by stating that AR/VR tech will be a game-changer for the AEC industry, and will increase innovation in engineers and designers.