Posted on: 8 April 2014
Dan Iaboni
Ph.D - Principal Experience Architect
Preparing for an Augmented Future: Homework
In my webinar I stated that for AR to be successful it needs to be useful and make it easier to do things than the way we do it today. The path for long term adoption of AR is through the creation of enterprise level applications that justify the investment by businesses (increased safety, improved efficiencies, reduced training, etc…). So what I would like you to do is to come up with an application of AR within a work environment.
To help you along I have a couple steps:
First, there are a lot of jobs and types of work, so to narrow things down I suggest that you think about what you wanted to be when you were 12 years old, a doctor, a firefighter, a pilot, a baker, etc.
Next, think about the tasks someone would do in this role. How does someone in this role perform the task, what are the various physical and cognitive activities they complete?
Lastly, once you have an understanding of the activity, identity opportunities where having virtual information, or objects can help with the task.
Now you can start to build your AR system.
- How is the virtual information displayed?
- What is tracked (person, object) and how?
- How will the user interact with the virtual information or object(s).
I encourage you to post your ideas below so that we can share our thoughts. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Dan Iaboni
Ph.D - Principal Experience Architect
Dan firmly believes that technology must be created with the user in mind. Never shy to critique a bad design, Dan uses the Akendi blog to shine a spotlight on usability mistakes…and their solutions. Leveraging his background in engineering, computer science, psychology, and anthropology, Dan offers a unique perspective on the latest UX trends and techniques.
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Hi Dan,
Can you please upload webinar somewhere online? I was busy missed few minutes here and there, would love to listen again.
Great work btw!
Thanks,
Zaur
Hi Zaur, you will likely get a link to the recording via email today. If not, you can find the link to the recording at the top of the blog post. Glad you enjoyed it!
I plan to consider AR applied to construction work; since this implies a real environment, the site and pre-built sections and AR to represent next stages, fastening points, levels and features which will be seen in the completed building. As the building goes up physical markers can be added to improve the match between the planned and real building. The display could be placed as a monocular or binocular helmet mount to leave both hands free and, where possible speech recognition for commands and physical parts and markers attached to physical tools such as squares drills etc.
Hi Tim,
When people think of high tech people always think of the medical, military or consumer markets, but I know that there are a lot of opportunities for AR in sectors like construction.
I like the idea of being able to compare the engineering diagrams to what is being built, and then being able to update the digital models so that they reflect “As Built”. Since the user is in a dangerous environment due to construction hazards, a monocular display would be better.
Another great opportunity in the construction sector deals with avoiding underground utilities when excavating. With accurate data about what is buried, a backhoe operator could be equipped with a binocular display (for improved depth perception), and would know when he is in close proximity to a buried pipe.
One final idea is to equip the individual that scan for underground utilities with a system for placing virtual markers to indicate locations. It may be hard to cost justify an AR system compared to a $10 can of spray paint, but the markers will last as long as the data does, and you don’t mark up the neighborhood with multicolored scribble.