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BEST PRACTICES & STRATEGIES

Augmented Reality in the working world

Digitization is changing many work processes in the ‘HoloLens’. Together with the Holographic Workstation,
world of work in which virtual and augmented realities a special desk for AR use, the application optimizes
(VR/AR) is being paid increasingly attention. work processes, such es e.g. the one of Citigroup
traders through virtual displays. AR manages to unlock
Combining the virtual with the real world, and expanding a new dimension in infotainment as well, which is why it
real world environments with digitally visualized content, comes as no surprise that the Fraunhofer Institute has
brings new uses and applications to the fore. They been dealing with it extensively for five years. Just think
promise higher efficiency in product development and of the Timetraveler App that can be used on
production, as well as customer communication. smartphones. Another good example for domestic use
is the iOS App Pair, which conjures virtual furniture on
Augmented Reality (AR) embraces virtual additions to the display in the living room. The furniture can be
the real-time reality, such as data, objects, texts, rearranged and viewed from all sides. Pair shows what
symbols or moving images, often in combination with AR will bring us in the future, namely playful help in
acoustic recordings, with the help of devices, like everyday life and when shopping in countless areas. In
smartphone or AR glasses. rudiments, AR applications are already in vehicles in
the form of information that follow the driver's gaze, e.g.
Virtual Reality (VR), on the other hand, represents a speed, traffic information, lane-projected navigation,
more or less absolute reality-antipole. Unlike AR, VR etc.
excludes reality except for the existence of the user. The
user immerses himself in the virtual world with the help The Korean KAIST University and the Japanese
of technical tools. technology group NEC, for instance, have developed
virtual keyboards on which the user can type in an AR
VR has many application possibilities, including environment in free space. Microsoft, Google,
commercial ones beyond the gaming world and Samsung and meanwhile also Sony have tried (or are
educational programs: e.g. walking through virtual trying) to develop smart contact lenses equipped with
shopping malls, new construction projects or exotic cameras and sensors as an alternative to the
vacation destinations. However, the broader range of sometimes bulky and annoying "data glasses" for AR
applications gives augmented reality a head start. And applications. The first model is expected to be ready for
with the rapidly increasing number of new applications, it the market soon.
seems that AR will soon be a practical inherent part of
our daily life. The developments show that our user and viewing
habits with hardware touchpoints, whether classic PC
AR applications are already being used in today’s or smartphone, will be outdated in a few years. The
working life, especially in the construction and logistics visualizations and applications will virtually move into
industry, where the most important hardware is the "data free space without taking us the view of the real
glasses" that frees both hands of the user. But AR has environment.◊
also found its way into the office, as e.g. Microsoft and
the startup 8ninths showcases with the AR glasses By Daniela La Marca

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