Augemented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR)

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Royal
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Augemented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR)

Post by Royal » Thu Jul 09, 2015 5:49 am

Moving away from paper and into an augmented reality maintenance manual has another tremendous benefit: if used properly, it can shorten the training cycle of equipment technicians.

The goal here would be to actually put the exact same kind of AR manual in technician training classrooms as in the field. Prospective technicians can learn to service equipment not just by reading books and working with mock-ups, but by actually walking through virtual procedures—the same procedures they’d use out at sea on a platform. Further, instructors can "share screens" with them and assist with troubleshooting—just as remote experts could help when out in the field (network connectivity permitting).

Augmented Reality in industry faces different sets of challenges than it does in the consumer world. Where we’re concerned primarily with consumer AR being intrusive and distracting to the everyday person doing everyday things, industrial AR is a lot like the military’s use of the technology: it’s acceptable to implement it with the expectation that the user will have some relevant training and job skills. Plus, as mentioned, AR can be incorporated into the actual job training, getting technicians used to using it throughout their entire job.

The AR maintenance manual concept looks like a win—and the applications are clearly there beyond oil and gas. Any kind of industrial setting with complex machinery that requires installation and maintenance checklists could benefit; GE hopes to be able to roll the technology out in the near term.
http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/07 ... -industry/


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