Extended Reality Solutions From Trimble

Extended reality (XR) technologies are transforming industries like retail & eCommerce, healthcare, and real estate. XR solutions help companies eliminate distance barriers between employees and customers.

XR technology uses headsets to provide immersive experiences in different forms. It can include Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality or Mixed Reality used individually or together.

Augmented Reality (AR)

AR starts with a camera-equipped device—such extended reality solutions as a smartphone, tablet or smart glasses—loaded with software that recognizes the environment around the user. When the device is pointed at a specific object, the software downloads information about the object and displays it as an interactive 3-D experience.

This can be a virtual overlay of data on the physical world, or it can take the form of video, text and graphical information. The display automatically adjusts to the user’s movements, bringing new augmented reality content into view when it’s relevant and pushing out when it’s not. It also scales to the size of the user’s eye, enabling multiple users to look at the same object and see different augmented reality experiences.

Companies can leverage AR to create differentiation in a number of ways, including improving product functionality and ease of use, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, and reducing cost. For example, an augmented reality app that enables customers to try out products digitally in their homes or office will reduce the need for costly brick-and-mortar showrooms and product demonstrations.

In industrial settings, augmented reality can improve operational efficiencies by eliminating manual processes and enhancing training and support. For instance, the energy company BP uses AR to guide workers through maintenance procedures on oil platforms while reducing downtime and costs. The US Department of Homeland Security combines AR instructions with VR simulations to train personnel on emergency response drills without the high cost and risk of training in the real world.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality (VR) creates an immersive digital experience that is based on computer-generated environments. It is used in entertainment, gaming and healthcare. It uses a headset with sensor peripherals to track head movements and body position. VR systems are used in various types of devices including computers, phones and consoles.

Fully immersive VR creates a full simulation of an environment, using sight, sound and sometimes touch or smell. It has been developed for gaming and entertainment, but it is also being used for training in fields such as military combat or flight simulators.

Semi-Immersive VR is a type of VR that allows the user to see virtual objects as though they were in front of them. This type of VR is commonly used for virtual shopping, and it can reduce product return rates and simplify marketing activities.

Collaborative VR makes it possible for people to interact with each other in a shared virtual environment, such as a conference room or classroom. It is similar to teleconferencing, but it is more immersive and provides a shared experience.

Real estate: VR can be a powerful tool for real estate, allowing home buyers to tour properties without ever leaving their homes. It can also be used to demonstrate building plans to clients and architects, and it is helping to streamline the property sale process.

Mixed Reality (MR)

Trimble’s MR solutions connect the digital and physical world allowing users to interact with data and information freely and intuitively by utilizing natural human input. This immersive experience is a powerful tool for visualizing, reviewing and solving in 3D with greater accuracy, safety and quality. Whether it’s for training, conceptualising or planning, or for operational functions such as asset management and operations support, you can now work more efficiently and collaborate without boundaries.

Using cameras, sensors and sometimes AI-enhanced technology, MR uses the user’s environment to create an immersive experience that combines real-world elements with virtual ones. MR can be used to add, duplicate or relocate virtual objects in the space and interact with them believably.

The best MR headsets, such as Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, feature holographic displays that project images and augmented reality smart glasses video in high-definition to provide an immersive experience. MR headsets also have hand and voice recognition for easy navigation and interaction with the device’s software, and advanced processing power to capture real-time data from the user’s environment.

MR is being used in various industries for different applications, from manufacturing to healthcare and even military. For example, a company can build digital representations of products and processes – known as ‘digital twins’ – to test out, optimize and verify new designs before committing to production costs. This helps minimize errors and reduce time spent on rework and training.

Applications

XR technologies have found their way into numerous industries and have brought about immense benefits. XR applications are helping businesses cut costs, reduce time to market and improve customer experience. Some of the prominent areas leveraging XR technology include retail, manufacturing, medical and training.

For instance, MR and VR can help a consumer understand how a garment fits or how a beauty product will work on their skin before buying it. This helps reduce the risk of returns and increases sales. Similarly, furniture companies use AR to help customers visualize how their products will look in their homes. This saves a lot of time and effort for both the client and the company.

Another area benefiting from XR solutions is remote training and collaboration. Using augmented reality and virtual reality, teams can communicate and collaborate remotely with one another. This also helps reduce travel costs, and it makes for a more efficient work environment.

The sports industry is another sector that has benefited from XR. Using MR and VR, athletes can train and practice in a simulated environment without having to travel. In addition, fans can have a new and unique way to interact with their favorite teams through immersive experiences like virtual stadiums.