Augment Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have disrupted and transformed workplace training. With these technologies, organizations can deliver highly sophisticated training during the workflow. This disruption has led to less reliance on formal training and quickly put the newly hired employees on the job.
Lately, there have been debates on choosing one over the other. The simpler answer is that your use case and nature of training determine the suitability of AR or VR.
AR Technology
The major pro in favor of AR is that it does not isolate a person from their surroundings. The augmented reality view is superimposed over normal vision. Thus, extended use of AR headsets does not cause disorientation for the user. However, VR headsets can cause disorientation as they create their own virtual world within the actual physical space, but both worlds may not have any contextual connection.
VR Technology
VR headsets, on the other hand, have different levels of applications. It can provide a near-real-life experience that is required to train certain professions like firefighting, surgery, disaster management, and things like that. In such professions, one cannot rely on actual events to gain experience, or the natural events cannot be reproduced safely. In those cases, engineering or technical training can be delivered far more effectively compared to AR.
Use cases of AR over VR
The new technicians have used AR technologies to troubleshoot or repair complex machines on site, such as elevators, production floor machinery, and photocopiers machines, with a significantly high success rate despite lacking formal training.
In typical cases, AR headsets recreate the animated, multi-dimensional model of the machine or its components. Fundamentally, the engineering or mechanical drawings of the components are transformed into 3-D representations and animation with the help of specialized engineering software. The spatial model is a life-size and almost exact replica of the component in the air. The user has complete control to see it from all angles, walk around it, and perform tasks ‘virtually’ as if the component was right there physically.
In other use cases, the AR headsets create a superimposed model on top of the physical component or machine. That allows the user to have a one-to-one connection between a physical thing and an overlaid augmented model. Such models are used for guiding car assembly line workers to build the car assemblies step by step.
In both models, AR headsets integrate with other software interfaces and applications and act like a ‘walking laptop’ that allows pulling up the relevant procedures, images, videos, and step-by-step assistive instructions right inside the headset at the click of a finger. They don’t have to look for manuals or papers. AR headsets can support tons of different media to make work highly successful, like even pointing out the errors to the employees in real-time. The technical engineers, assembly workers, or mechanics can follow these instructions from the hologram displays while their hands are free to do the tasks.
As an extension of the use case, most AR headsets also offer the ability to pull relevant experts into the scene remotely when needed. In this mode, AR headsets can transmit a live video feed to remote experts for real-time conversation or guidance. At the core, it is like running a Zoom or MS Team meeting via AR headset. The experts can see what is happening and guide these novice engineers to fix the problems remotely.
About the author
Dr Raman K Attri is a highly credentialed organization learning leader, recognized as one of the Brainz Global 500 leaders and Chief Learning Officer of the Year. An award-winning accelerated learning scientist, he specializes in the science of speed in personal and professional performance. With two decades of research, he has created a time-tested system to help leaders and organizations to accelerate leadership to stay ahead. A TEDx and professional speaker, he guides top business executives at leading conferences to master speed in business. A prolific author of 50 multi-genre books, he writes on leadership, learning, performance, and workplace learning. Holder of two doctorates and over 100 international educational credentials, he is an authentic accelerated learning guru who walks the talk. More recently, he founded the GetThereFaster portal as a one-stop resource for anyone to learn the secrets of learning better and faster. A global training thought leader at a Fortune 500 technology corporation, he manages a Hall of the Fame training organization named as one of the top 10 in the world. Permanently disabled since childhood, Dr Raman K Attri is a hallmark of positivity and inspiration. He has transformed his inability to walk into a unique expertise to teach others techniques to ‘walk faster’ in what they do. One of the most Admired Global Indians of the Year, he is featured in over 200 media features, inspiring others to strive for excellence in their personal and professional lives. Connect with him at GetThereFaster and follow him @DrRamanKAttri on any social media platforms.
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