Augmented and virtual reality go to work
We all know augmented reality and virtual reality (AR and VR) from the books we read and from the movies we watched. Recently, some of us might have experienced some usage of these technologies in games and entertainment, but we are going to see an immense growth of these technologies inside enterprises.
While AR works blending digital information with the physical world, allowing users to experience changes in the real world, VR can completely immerse the user in a manufactured environment that depicts actual places or even imaginary worlds.
These technologies are the next step towards the eager search for simpler user interaction. We have passed from the client-server web-based point-click-type to the mobile touch-swipetalk and now with AR and VR we can have natural modes of interaction, such as gestures, postures, gazes and even mood, driving our attention to ourselves or to the world (real or simulated) around us.
The areas of communication and collaboration, training and simulation, and field and customer service will be hugely impacted by AR and VR technologies, as they are already reinventing employee and customer experiences.
Into each of these areas we can highlight some applications: videoconferences that replicates face-to-face interactions through VR, replacement of high-cost physical scenarios for AR- and VR-based ones for rehearsal or training in dangerous environments, and previews of leisure places and accommodations to customers.
Thinking about that, we notice how important becomes the notion of focus, because now, gazing on an object is the new hover state that directs the user intent and might present options not visible before. A blink of an eye of the snap of a finger could also bring changes of time, scale, position and relationship of objects not bound by physical realities.
Thus, the world of AR and VR should be an extension of an organization's digital strategy, applying new technologies to transform customer engagement and employee empowerment. The consumer market is becoming crowded in both categories. Volatility will be the name of the game for some time. Designing for AR and VR requires embracing new patterns and perspectives along with a wholly different design vocabulary.
Given that these tools are brand new, experimentation is not only necessary, but essential to help everyone understand what they can do and how they should be applied to drive value. It’s time to put AR and VR to work—and bring enterprise IT back to the future.
Nobiletec is a multi-national consultancy firm specializes in B2B, B2C and P2P FinTech solutions.
