With the reality-virtuality continuum, we understand the transformation of reality from real to virtual. In this whole transition at different points, virtual and real elements interact at different degrees. Honestly, it’s a creation of technology that generates digital interfaces out of thin air with just glasses or a headset. We have Real Reality (RR) at one end and Virtual Reality (VR) at the other. The latter one creates a simulated environment that involves user perspective, providing a complete virtual experience without resources of the real world. On the other hand, Augmented Reality (AR) superimposes graphics, sounds, and other elements to the real world, keeping virtuality and reality separate. Of course, observers can experience both the real and virtual elements in real-time but cannot make them interact with each other.
Adding to this, we have Mixed Reality which has become an integral part of enterprise mobility services with its great potential to become gen-next technology in the business world. Similar to AR and VR, devices enabling MR offers the opportunity to view information without a traditional physical screen and creates digital elements that seem like in an actual scene. In a nutshell, actuality, and virtuality interact in real-time which allows organizations and enterprises to transform the way they conduct business activities. You can create a visualization that rebuilds natural environments, bringing big data to life. A plethora of industries and sectors, such as construction, engineering, architecture, and urban design are already using this technology, reaping the maximum benefits of this concept.
To get better acquainted with Mixed Reality and how it benefits enterprises, go through this article:
What Is Mixed Reality?
Mixed Reality or Hybrid Reality combines virtual and augmented reality and blends physical and digital spaces to various degrees in a hybrid environment where interactive virtual objects can be mapped. It enables users to manipulate and communicate with the surroundings (virtual and real) using high-level imaging and sensing technologies. MR can be used as an umbrella term for both a physical environment with partial digitization (AR) and a complete digital environment (VR). This technology stands a strong chance to be the next biggest evolution in the professional IT services where experts will take digital tools from 2D space to interactive 3D experience. Yes, it behaves like a real-world object but is ultimately a computer-generated asset that is seen and interacted with through a headset.
As you can see that the core premise of AR and MR is almost similar but the basic difference is technology as the former is viewed via flat-screen, such as tablet or smartphone while the latter is more headset-based. Mixed Reality is also familiar with the geometry of the surrounding environment and uses it as a canvas so that you can create immersive content. Although it is mostly associated with entertainment and gaming, MR has several practical applications for enterprises and businesses. Companies are making the best of it, leveraging its true benefits to transform the workplace and enhance communication, problem-solving, and training programs. Thanks to its ability to apply digital information directly to employee’s real-life experience, researchers and businesses are getting more intrigued by it.
To know how it is or can be used by enterprises, read the following points:
Employee Training Programs
Employees have to flip through several pages manually for instructions or to attend training sessions. With Mixed Reality, organizations get an opportunity to train their workers via simulated hands-on experience. It provides ‘experiential training’ sessions in different professions, including medical, design, engineering, and more which make complex learning programs easier while mitigating the risks of hampering company assets during the process. The sessions can be conducted on-the-job which reduces the time required to create training modules and the overall costs. It goes beyond training videos and includes realistic simulations without exhausting physical resources. Workers can test out various scenarios and have unlimited practice attempts.
To Drive Sales
Are your sales falling? Are you looking for a way to increase the company’s revenue? Then Mixed Reality can be your solution to drive sales and see instant results. Many big brands and organizations use MR empowered software and websites to allow customers to try their products, such as clothes, lenses or glasses, cosmetics, furniture, and more before making the buying decision. They can check if the products that they want to buy will suit their home or needs or not. The best example is IKEA which recently launched an app so that buyers can use the digital space to see how products look or fit actually. Similarly, companies are combining AR and the facial scanning feature to create a digital profile to see if a pair of glasses would look good on the user. The retail industry is rapidly adopting this technology, and without any further delay, you must also hire dedicated developers to jump on the bandwagon.
Quality Assurance Process
Well, quality has always been the biggest selling point for every brand. No matter how effective your promotional strategy is or how popular you are on social media but if the quality of your product is not satisfactory, then everything is in vain. Of course, there are many tools and techniques to ensure top-notch quality but MR comes with real-time experience and data to convey the work quality of on-site teams and verify their work. It allows managers and supervisors to keep a close eye on team performance, errors, quality of work, and also highlights communication loopholes within the team. The senior management can take corrective actions instantly and make sure that everything is in order. Also, it incorporates quality testing and assurance with the production process which allows real-time visual inspection of the product.
Data Visualizations
MR is a powerful and effective tool to view and manipulate data in 3D space. From creating a graph into a colleague’s view on the spot to studying a timelapse of topographic change, MR has got it all covered with its great functionality. As this technology enables digital overlays to respond to real scenes, visualizations can be easily placed on walls, tables, or in mid-air as well. Needless to say the presentation of data in this form comes with additional uses and benefits as it is the 3D model form. The best example would be when people collaborate to study a diagram of the human body or machine where they can view, assess, and manipulate several aspects in real-time. Apart from deriving insights from spatial data visualization, it also allows you to follow visual guides to execute various tasks.
For Computing Experience
Headsets and glasses empowered with enterprise-grade Mixed Reality move workers from traditional and fixed physical computer monitors to a new age computing system, reshaping the future of a workplace and organizations. With MR as the ultimate computer, you get an infinite display and see the world filled with virtual objects and holograms. Now, workstations no more have to rely on a single screen or dual monitor as there will be as many screens as one desires in a 3D space. Users can scale, position or reposition, delete these virtual screens as per their requirements. This customized computing environment will cater to the exact location, height, and distance needs of users. There will be no physical constraints of traditional screens to enhance multitasking or viewing.
Summing It Up
At present, we are already too involved and deep into this technology and will only adopt it more into our lives in the future. Enterprises and brands are already tapping into the true potential of Mixed Reality to transform their workplace and workflow. Soo, they will be ensuring that it possesses the required fidelity to track all real-world workplace environments accurately.
So, if you still haven’t planned the change, it’s high time for you to make the switch and witness a new era in your business.
Author’s Bio: Alicia works with the editorial team of A3logics, a leading enterprise software development company. Exploring the latest technologies, reading about them, and writing her views have always been her passion. She seeks new opportunities to express her opinions, explore technological advancements, and document the details. You can always find her enjoying books or articles about varied topics or jotting down her ideas in a notebook.