by Keshav Jeet, on Apr 3, 2020 1:01:21 PM
Estimated reading time: 3 mins
As scenarios of lockdowns and curfews become quite frequent bringing neighborhoods to a standstill, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality App Development companies are offering solutions to fulfill business requirements and proceed with business as usual (BAU) activity. The technology has been around for quite some time and focuses on delivering quality user experience in experiential training of the military cadres. However, with the increase in COVID-19 and Ebola type pandemics, insurgency, and war-like situations, AR/VR apps are offering practical solutions even in the business environment.
What is AR?
AR offers an interactive real-world experience using technology generated topologies, simulations, and stimuli using multiple sensory modalities, visual and audio being the primary ones. The technology overlays simulations and virtual objects on the real-world surroundings to offer an enhanced user experience. Users access and engage with the technology using Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) over one or both the eyes as well as smartphones.
What is VR?
VR provides simulated experience, which is usually different from the surrounding environment. It is used for developing gaming and instructional media for military and is engaged with by using VR-enabled HMDs.
How businesses are using AR/VR today?
Though the technology has its antecedents in experiential learning, it has a huge potential. It offers practical alternatives to conduct business even in the face of a lockdown. Here are some use cases.
- Business meetings:
When stranded in no man’s land with nowhere to go, business need not come to a standstill. You can not only meet and greet other project members but also discuss and finalize the manufacturing nuances of even a piece of a heavy machinery and culminate its processing – everything in real-time but yes in virtual space.
The host of the meeting can take the other project members through a 360-degree guided tour of the under-construction manufacturing piece in a virtual surrounding. It is much more than contemporary video conferencing, where you can discuss a project from approval through completion in quite detail.
- Self-help AR training apps:
Breakdown of a piece of heavy machinery used for running a 24x7 essential service poses a risk to the institution as well as to the life of the end-users. The ideal solution is to rope in a specialist to get the machine up and running. With not a soul ready to step out in the streets, AR/VR solutions offers quick help at hand. Accessed using an AR-enabled HMD, the solution is superimposed on the target machine which then unravels the process of getting the machine back on track in a step by step manner – a la help file.
- AR/VR powered LMS interventions for schools:
No more wastage of schooling years during an insurgency, war, or a pandemic infested lockdown. Contemporary Learning Management Systems (LMSes) have been around. However, AR/VR powered learning delivery mechanisms at a national university level, enables you to attend a streaming classroom in real-time in a virtual sitting arrangement, discuss concepts in a 360 degree environment, as well as engage with professors and peers over the lecture deliveries.
The students would need a HMD device, a wired or wifi network, and a virtual keyboard at their disposal while the teachers and professors would deliver the learnings using pre-built AR/VR learning interventions developed by subject matter experts.
- GPS history enabled contact tracing apps:
Fit-bit type GPS enabled RFID tags cuffed on to active and recovering patients help in home quarantine and helps authorities to monitor their movement using appropriate gear.
In summary
AR/VR technology has high business potential. Moving the technology out from military arsenals to the business environment helps to unlock its true potential.
The technology offers practical solutions to continue with BAU and keep the business moving ahead even in times of COVID-19 and Ebola type pandemics and warlike situations.
