We’d like to draw our readers’ attention to an article on Medium.com by Amitt Mahajan “How Augmented Reality will put people back to work”.  Augmented Reality has the potential to help transition displaced workers who have lost their jobs due to increasing automation. By providing a worker with just-in-time information, AR enables them to perform a variety of tasks that they may have no prior experience with. This allows workers to fluidly move from one type of job to another to maintain a stable income.

Research shows that through a combination of robotics and artificial intelligence, a large number of jobs may disappear soon. Augmented Reality (AR), however, may become the tool that delays this fate by evolving the role of workers in a post-automation world, creating opportunities for continued employment across a more diverse set of occupations.

The article talks through how AR can enable people to perform a variety unfamiliar and complex tasks. At scale, this can take a displaced workforce and immediately put people back to work performing jobs guided by AR.  Many examples are provided in the article of how AR is currently being used in workplace contexts and how it might be used in the future to bring huge benefits to the world of work. Applications already exist that make it easy for remote knowledge workers to draw and instruct within an on-site technician’s field-of-vision.

AREA members ScopeAR and DAQRI are mentioned in the article for their work in bringing AR solutions to the enterprise.

AR knowledge also has the ability to adapt immediately whereas traditional training does not.  The article concludes by offering the opinion that while AR isn’t a permanent solution to unemployment, it is one that could ease the transition of displaced workers.  Long term, even these sorts of jobs may be automated by specialized robots. That level of automation, however, could be decades away or may never become economically viable. In the meantime, augmented reality can provide a way for the human worker to continue to be productive and a value to society.

AREA member Upskill announced another successful pilot at GE Aviation using the company’s Skylight platform on Glass Enterprise Edition.

In a press release on Prnewswire.com Upskill announced that this new use case, combined with significant growth in AR and assisted reality implementations across GE, Boeing and many other customers worldwide, is a testament to the immediate return on investment companies in the industrial sector see after deploying Skylight on Glass.

Jay Kothari, Project Lead, Glass said; “Our customers’ success is a direct result of Upskill’s longevity as a Glass Partner dating back to the Explorer Program. Upskill saw the potential for Glass in the workplace early on and has successfully deployed Glass across a range of businesses to help people be more effective and efficient at their jobs,”

Upskill CEO and co-founder Brain Ballard commented, saying; “It is exciting to now have Glass available to enterprises who understand the value of how wearables and industrial IoT can transform a business today. Now, more than ever, organizations can confidently invest in smart glasses to drive meaningful impact and get the most out of their investments towards digital transformation.”

The article discusses how these smart glass implementations span a wide range of use cases across GE Businesses—from topbox cabinet wiring, to warehouse picking and kitting, to field repair and maintenance. In the case of GE Aviation, age-old tools are now becoming connected, and interacting digitally with people who build and repair aircraft engines. Mechanics tested Skylight on Glass combined with a WiFi-enabled torque wrench to optimally tighten bolts while performing routine assembly and maintenance tasks.

To view the new case study click here.

AREA member Appearition released a 5 minute read blog this week where they interviewed Tomi T Ahonen with 5 questions.  Tomi T Ahonen is “a thought leader in Tech Space with a distinct passion for Augmented Reality”. He’s the author of 12 books on mobile.  

Topics covered include

• How the Augmented Reality Industry has evolved over the past 5 years
• Where he’d like to see the industry in the next 5 years
• The more influential players in this industry
• Where he sees the most potential for development
• Top 3 benefits of AR technology
• Challenges faced by companies looking to adopt Augmented Reality at an enterprise level
• Thoughts and advice for newcomers in the industry

Tomi T Ahonen believes that ‘AR is truly magical. As such, it appeals remarkably strongly to young people.’  With discussions on how AR is ‘illustrative’ it really is worth a read!

To read the interview in full click here.

AREA members Atheer have announced their acquisition with SpaceView.  SpaceView is a company which creates technologies that allow other organisations to combine their digital and physical work spaces which then transforms their mobile industrial professionals work.

According to WeAreWVProud.com this acquisition will allow Atheer customers to enhance ways they visualize and place 3D virtual objects in the real world, creating richer Mixed Reality experiences. This acquisition means that Atheer will have extended their growing portfolio of innovative AR and MR technologies and capabilities. The article believes that SpaceView have held several patents relating to the representation of 3D objects in 2D environments which will complement Atheer’s own patent portfolio.

Soulaiman Itani, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Atheer said “We’re constantly looking for ways to enhance our offerings and SpaceView has an amazing product and solid team for us to build on. By bringing this new technology to our AiR products, we’ll be able to give our customers the ability to build better mixed reality experiences across the broadest range of smart glass and other AR platforms.”

According to the article, award winners are selected by more than 40 industry-leading press, editors, journalists, thought leaders and analysts who cover technology. There are 68 awards than can be won and these awards identify the best in mobile devices and software, wireless technology, platforms, Internet of Things, wearables, reuse/recycling of devices, connected products, robotics, Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence and emerging solutions.

PTC is one of the leading providers of enterprise IoT technologies and services. Its ThingWorx technology has grown alongside the Industrial IoT market, becoming one of the most widely-used and trusted ways for companies to leverage the Industrial IoT to create smart, connected operations, products, and solutions.

This is the third consecutive year that PTC has seen its IoT leadership recognized by the Compass Intelligence Awards. In 2016, PTC was named Internet of Things Enablement Company of the Year and Leading Augmented Reality Vendor, and in 2015 PTC was named IoT Innovation Vendor of the Year for its ThingWorx® IoT technology.

Congratulations to PTC!

Launched at this year’s CES, DAQRI introduced Smart Glasses that are a powerful, lightweight and comfortable headset. Designed for use in multiple settings such as medical, engineering, construction and manufacturing, they also provide a visual computing medium which allows wearers to see guided work instructions.

The article states that not only will Flex be manufacturing DAQRI’s headsets they will also be managing logistics directly to the consumer and provide after-market services including repair maintenance.

Brian Mullins, CEO and Founder at DAQRI said, “the pace of growth across our Augmented Reality platform continues to accelerate. It’s now time for DAQRI to scale operations to meet our customer demand. By working with Flex, not only do we get access to a global system of production and logistics, but we get a true innovation partner as we build the future of Augmented Reality. That’s very powerful.”

To read the article in full, click here.

“Our clients are located all over the world, manufacturing anything from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals and heavy machinery. Some clients make as many as 1,000 tubes per minute, where each minute of downtime can result in significant financial loss,” says Christer Bäck, Customer Service Manager at Norden Machinery.

XMReality have then come up with intuitive solution to stop financial loss with their new ‘Remote Guidance’ being a valuable tool. This new tool enables its service staff to guide each other without being physically on site.

Niklas Rengfors, sales director at XMReality, said: “Our software can be easily installed on different hardware platforms, such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. Additionally, many users opt for the smart glasses that offer a wide field of view and let the user work with both hands free. The choice of hardware is based on the needs of the company.”

Common applications within the manufacturing industry include field service and aftermarket service, as well as training. Reduced travel costs, an improved service offering and a higher skill level within the company are some of the advantages that XMReality’s customers testify to.

To read the article in full click here.

The program is operated by the SC Technical College System, trains workers for jobs at the Boeing assembly plant in North Charleston. Boeing is an AREA member. The program works with industry to provide classroom, lab and on-the-job learning for high-tech, high-skill and high-wage jobs in advanced manufacturing.

Today’s manufacturing workers must possess a completely different skill set than that of previous generations, utilizing such technologies as 3-D printing, augmented reality and robotics on the shop floor. They are more often required to work and communicate as a team, think critically and creatively solve problems.

This program works to meet the recruitment and training needs of industry partners such as Boeing, Bosch, Giti Tire, GKN, Mercedes-Benz, Michelin, Toray Composites and Volvo.  According to the article, the genius of this program is its flexibility and on-the-ground partnership with the industries that do the hiring and know what skills they need.

Boeing provides an excellent example. Boeing personnel worked alongside the readySC training team to develop an intensive career and technical education new-hire program. The company also advised the local technical colleges in the design and validation of more than 200 courses. In addition, Boeing worked closely with readySC in providing materials and expertise to help us create a realistic simulated work environment.

AREA member PTC’s Kerry Grimes has been interviewed by Lynn Haber on Channel Partners Online.  PTC, host of the recent LiveWorx Technology Conference, held last month in Boston, is all about investing in a channel-led strategy as the company transitions from its CAD, PLM (project life-cycle management) and SLM (service life-cycle management) roots to Internet of Things (IoT) and Augmented Reality (AR).

Kerry Grimes is Senior Vice President, worldwide channel sales at PTC. In the interview he reveals insight on PTC’s channel strategy. PTC has about 400 partners. Grimes is a channel veteran who, prior to his current four-year stint at PTC, worked in channel sales at Siemens UGS PLM Software for eight years and also, among some other career moves, cut his teeth in the channel as director, channel operations, at IBM Software Group for 13 years.

Grimes states: “The company now has the vision and forethought in two key markets, two key technology waves that are coming at us: IoT and VR/AR – both pieces. We play in both those [VR/AR] markets. We see the AR market first, and that’s where we’re using things like digital twin to tie the physical world with the digital world together. We’re working on VR technologies, which now actually allow you to overlay CAD data while you’re looking at the physical world.”

The full interview can be read here.

A 2017 market research report gives insights on the Global Augmented Reality and Digital Exhibitions Market. This report is an in-depth study and analysis that has been put together by a group known as the Key Market Insights.

The report, according to WhatTech, covers a vast expanse of information including an overview, comprehensive analysis, definitions and classifications, applications and expert opinions.

Major players mentioned in the market report include:

• Microsoft
• Google
• Facebook
• Carl Zeiss
• Baofeng Sony
• Razer
• HTC
• DAQRI
• Atheer
• Mata
• CastAR and many more

This report studies the Augmented Reality and Digital Exhibitions market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top manufacturers in global and major regions, and splits the Augmented Reality and Digital Exhibitions market by product type and applications/end industries.

Please note that the AREA is not affiliated with the producers of the report. To download sample pages click here.