Augmented reality in reality check
3D applications, especially those in the field of augmented reality, have been capturing the imagination of technology enthusiasts (i.e. presumably all readers of these lines) for a good decade. All the media have already reported extensively on the first examples, on the one hand because they are so beautifully illustrative, and on the other because immersion in parallel worlds has always fascinated people. Many applications already successfully manage to combine virtual and real space, most notably computer games like Pokémon Go. Other hype technologies such as Google Glass have shown that there are also dead ends. Augmented reality in the Reality Check therefore means that for the quickly understandable, vivid and fascinating examples, there is a hurdle somewhere that first needs to be overcome before they can be applied in reality.
Knowing what, where and how
3D applications that do not leave virtual space now work very well thanks to increasing computer capacities. Augmented reality, i.e., linking it to reality, on the other hand, is a real challenge on several levels. Just a few examples:
- what device is used to process the 3D data and anchor it in reality? You rarely have a thick computer under your arm when you are on the road. Smartphones and tablets, on the other hand, are always with you and are also increasingly powerful.
- How is a meaningful representation for the user achieved? For example, common AR/VR glasses are usually not (yet) suitable for continuous use at the workplace, if only for ergonomic reasons. Where should “the virtual object” be anchored in reality? How can the capturing device recognize reality?
- how should the 3D object be staged? Statically or dynamically? What additional information does the user need?
- in what complexity should the object be displayed, disassembled and reassembled?
- what is the actual benefit of this beautiful technical “gimmick”? The 3D representation in itself does not yet fulfill an economic purpose. Rather, the benefit must come from opening up new possibilities, reducing complexity, saving work time, or improving the quality of results.
The bridge
The bridge, i.e. the expedient linking of relevant information from reality with the vivid virtual representation, is the key to the benefits of the 3D application for augmented reality in Reality Check. The more I know about the user and his use case, the better I can stage the object for him. The more targeted and intuitive the presentation, the higher the benefit. A 3D image says more than 1,000 words. The user feels understood and can focus more quickly on the essentials.
Our partner Threedy
With Threedy, we have a partner that was spun off from a Fraunhofer Institute and is second to none when it comes to 3D display. Threedy’s solutions enable high-performance 3D displays and augmented reality applications to be distributed worldwide on a wide variety of end devices on the Internet.
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What drives us is the desire to really understand the use case of our customers and to implement perfectly fitting, customized IT solutions on this basis. Whether cars, engines, agricultural machinery or aircraft engines - we want to understand what moves the customer. Particularly with AR/VR applications, as shown above, the optimal embedding of the IT solution in the use case is the key to success. With this integration, we deliver the promise of the vision to the customer and create the long-term benefits, which can then also be expressed in terms of time, quality or money.
Conclusion
If your complex products need to be presented in a simple and performant way, then you need Threedy! If you want to optimally integrate the technical possibilities of Threedy into your use case, then you need us!
Live Hack
So if someone asks you about Augmented Reality with a reference to “Zero” by Marc Elsberg and the dire consequences (and we’ve all had this conversation at a party or in the beer garden), then we have a few useful real-world application examples. Contact us, we’d love to hear from you!
4Soft GmbH
4Soft combines innovation with quality. Our strength is complex IT solutions. Tailor-made and future-proof, from analysis to design and implementation to commissioning and maintenance. Our focus is always on customer satisfaction and long-term customer loyalty.
