Choosing AR Glasses
Choosing the right AR glasses is crucial. Regardless of how many benefits they offer, users will only use them if they feel comfortable and secure.
For example, a field service technician can communicate with engineering teams remotely, view schematics for equipment, and resolve problems faster. This can help businesses deliver higher first-time fix rates and customer satisfaction.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality involves overlaying digital information on top of the real world. This technology can be used for a number of business applications. AR can be used for everything from adding cat ears and whiskers to a Snapchat selfie to showing how well a piece of furniture will fit in a home. It’s also been used to help archeologists recreate ancient archaeological sites.
AR smart glasses use a combination of cameras and sensors to determine the ar glasses user’s environment. This information is then digitally overlaid with 3D images or holograms. AR glasses are different from VR headsets because they don’t fully immerse the user in a simulated virtual space.
The best AR glasses are lightweight, comfortable and easy to use. They have a large field of view and offer HD display resolutions. Some have inertial head-trackers that move a digital display relative to the wearer’s eyes and head positions. They are ideal for business applications that require hands-free operation.
Business leaders considering AR should focus on ROI and efficiency benefits when making the case for investing in augmented reality hardware. For example, business leaders should highlight how a central team of AR-trained experts can support front-line workers and technicians in a range of industries. This can reduce turnover vulnerability and save on training costs. In addition, businesses can use centralized AR to provide digital work instructions and support for employees who are working remotely.
Virtual Reality
Unlike AR, VR does not add to the user’s existing environment, but instead creates an immersive virtual world. The difference is similar to how we distinguish game consoles from computers; while both are machines with the same fundamental function of executing applications, they serve very different use-cases.
While the VR market is a little behind AR, it has gained a foothold in the field of smart glasses. For example, Snap’s Spectacles 4 have been launched with a focus on augmented reality features for business and industrial purposes, and a dedicated developer kit is available for creating AR apps.
Another entrant in this space is Vuzix Blade 2 smart glasses, which are designed for enterprise AR applications such as remote assistance. The glasses offer ANSI Z87.1 protection for the eyes and feature advanced waveguard optics that overlay digital information onto real-world objects. They can also detect and identify markers that are pre-loaded on the device, or can use GPS, SLAM (algorithm-based simultaneous localization and mapping technology that gets data from sensors), or both to locate and track the user’s location.
Other examples of AR include furniture companies like IKEA allowing customers to superimpose virtual models into their home to see how they would look, neurosurgeons using an AR scan of the brain during surgery, and broadcasters drawing lines on the field during sports games for analysis. The trend is clear: more AR is being developed and applied in various industries, and the technology looks set to become a mainstay for both personal and professional use.
Mixed Reality
AR is often referred to as mixed reality (MR), but it differs from VR in that MR includes the user’s real environment, and not just computer-generated virtual environments. AR technology is already being used in a wide variety of applications. For example, chefs can view step-by-step instructions as they prepare meals using a pair of AR glasses. Similarly, AR headsets can display routes and locations on the user’s field of vision.
AR glasses use either marker-based or smartphone-based location and object identification technologies to determine which real-world objects to overlay with digital 3D images or holograms. Some AR glasses also utilize GPS or SLAM (algorithm-based simultaneous localization and mapping technology) to figure out their geographic location.
These types of AR headsets can be worn at work and can allow the wearer to perform tasks without looking away from their workstation or interrupting colleagues. Depending on the type of business, AR can enable employees to work safer and faster.
Some AR headsets use Generative AI to automatically recognize and ar glasses label objects in the real world – deepening engagement and making it easier to understand complex or detailed concepts. These headsets are being developed for a number of industries including healthcare and education. They could also be used to improve gaming experiences by allowing the user to interact with characters that are more realistic and personalized.
Wearable Technology
Wearable technology refers to any type of device that can be worn on a person’s body. Some examples include smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smartglasses. Wearable technology is a growing area of research and development, with many applications in various industries. The potential market for wearable technology is enormous and is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years.
Augmented reality is a technology that enhances the real world with digital overlays. AR can be used in a variety of ways including in AR glasses, projectors and smartphones. It can be used for entertainment, education, and even medical purposes. There are a wide range of applications for AR, and it is becoming more commonplace in everyday life.
There are dozens of AR smart glasses currently available or in development. Some are more expensive than others, but the technology is advancing quickly. Google’s Glasses are more expensive than other AR headsets, but they offer a full waveguide display over the right eye and a wide range of functionality.
Engadget reports that another company, North, is working on a pair of AR glasses that will be more affordable than the Google Glasses. They will be aimed at sporting enthusiasts and will allow the user to monitor key data like time, speed, power, heart rate on an AMOLED microdisplay planted in photochromic lenses. They will also be able to connect with Garmin watches and bike sensors like power meters, and the user can tinker with the data screens to personalize the information displayed.