Will Augmented Reality Become Actual Reality in the Workplace?

When Google Glass first launched in 2013 it really split opinion. To those early adopters who favoured the concept, it was the cutting edge of innovation and allowed them to access their information, hands-free at any time. To others, it was a meaningless gimmick that was a distraction and a danger to others. The argument seemed to have been won by those who disliked the idea when Google withdrew the product from sale at the start of 2015. But, recently the issue has arisen again, when owners of Google Glass started receiving unscheduled software updates. This was followed by a Google announcement last week that the company was to relaunch the product as an Enterprise solution.

Whether Google Glass will succeed or not in its second iteration is just as debatable as the first time, but the launch does signal that Google thinks that the time could be right for widespread adoption of augmented reality in the workplace. Augmented reality differs from virtual reality in that it superimposed computer generated information on our own senses. This could be any sense, but the technology is predominantly used in vision applications. The information overlaid could be anything relevant to what the user is experiencing and generally enhances the users knowledge or enjoyment. Augmented reality apps have already started appearing on smartphones, and some have proven very popular, like Pokemon Go and Google Translate.

Overlaying information on what we see is not a new idea. Head-up displays (HUDs) have used this technology for a while - the first recognisably modern implementation of the technology was developed in France in the 1960s. Today’s implementations tend to be highly complex and expensive, such as in fighter jets, or only using local information, like in the driver information displays found in high-end vehicles. For instance, the specially designed helmet for the F-35 fighter jet is estimated to cost $400,000.

Augmented reality has great potential in the workplace to increase productivity and soften the effects of any skills shortage. This adoption may be through mobile phones, but at work, often two hands are required. Google Glass is an ideal format, as it leaves both hands free and is also connected to the Internet through speech.

DHL, who are one of the early adopters of the new Google Glass, use the technology in logistics, to allow operators to judge where a parcel is meant to go more accurately. The company estimates it has increased operational efficiency by 15%. In another example application, an operator could replace a part where an engineer would normally needed, by following step by step instructions from the HUD. An engineer could even use augmented reality to assist when fault-finding, and order any new parts through speech on the headset.  There are numerous other applications in which augmented reality will benefit the workforce.

It will be a while before we see the real impact of Augmented Reality in the workplace, and whether Google Glass is the ideal medium for the technology. For now it looks like the only real affordable option for a practical, connected solution.

PSD