Augmented reality has blown up over the past year.
Just last week, Snapchat made headlines for introducing what it’s calling world lenses, which allows you to create 3D experiences.
Plus, you’d be living under a rock if you hadn’t heard about the popularity of Pokemon Go last summer.
Apps like Pokemon Go and Snapchat are exposing many people to augmented reality for the first time, making something that seemed only feasible in Iron Man available for anyone with a smartphone.
So, that’s it? All AR is good for is helping us look like puppies and bunnies?
Not quite.
As it turns out, many brands have been implementing augmented reality in the enterprise with far more robust uses than just novel entertainment.
That’s why we created this infographic.
Click this image for the full infographic
Augmented Reality in Retail and Sales
Several brands, including Wayfair and Lowe’s, have experimented with Tango to help customers reimagine their shopping experience.
WayfairView, for example, helps customers visualize how furniture and decor would look in their homes before making a purchase. The idea is similar to an app Ikea released several years ago.
Lowe’s is also experimenting with room measurements and product styling in its Innovation Labs, referring to the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro as “the most powerful home improvement tool ever.”
Beyond that, Lowe’s is currently piloting an app that helps customers with in-store navigation.
With any Tango-enabled device, which uses computer vision to detect position in the real-world, a customer can follow turn-by-turn digital directions that appear before them to pick up every Lowe’s product they need in the most efficient route.
Augmented Reality in Training and Performance
Of course, AR can be used to help people do their jobs better.
We see two great examples in healthcare.
One is AccuVein, which helps clinicians illuminate veins to help reduce the amount of misplaced IV attempts, and, as a result, ease patient pain and discomfort.
The other is from a 2008 study that found a laparoscopic simulator helped surgical residents and surgeons acquire “basic skills” and “suturing and knot-tying tasks.”
Next, AR has long been studied by the automotive industry as a way to service vehicles more effectively.
Aided by AR, technicians are able to handle a broader range of equipment types and maintenance tasks than before with less training. Consequently, the service organization is able to allocate its workforce more cost-effectively. Instead of dedicated resource pools to handle certain equipment or customer accounts, more technicians can handle more cases; thereby improving responsiveness and customer satisfaction. (Source: ThingWorx)
Augmented Reality in Operational and Tactical Fields
Many people have fears of flying due to a number of high-profile incidents, but airplane pilots receive some of the best training in the world.
A new experiment uses a head-mounted display to reveal flight path and instrument data over a pilot’s vision. “Pilots can access data without taking their eyes off the skies,” says Reality Technologies, “and without spending valuable time struggling with physical controls or a touch interface.”
Additionally, Mercedez-Benz has developed an app that gives first responders the ability to mitigate further damage during an emergency.
[P]ersonnel can see color-coded representations of internal components, including key areas to be wary of when doing things like cutting through vehicles to free trapped passengers. The app will provide insight into where things like fuel lines, batteries and other electrical components are located, in order to help reduce the risk of further damage or injury that arises when a car needs to be unconventionally dismantled in order to save lives. (Source: TechCrunch)
Augmented Reality for Navigation
Finally, AR has immense use for navigation, as already seen by the Lowe’s example.
Our app, Cydalion, helps people with visual impairments navigate their surroundings with the use of a Tango-enabled device.
Another Float app called Translate converts text, phrases, and websites from English into different languages, and vice-versa.
As you can see, whether it’s for your retail brand or your operational personnel, augmented reality has far more uses than just plopping some bunny ears on your head. It is a very real technology that is capable of very real results in the enterprise.
If you’re interested in seeing any of the AR solutions we’ve built, or if you’re interested in a custom demo, please let us know.
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