Tuning into Augmented Reality: The Coming Adoption of AR Glasses at Workplace
It has been a little over a month since the Visio Pro announcement. The lingo in the media around extended reality has changed and we are seeing a gradual turn in the minds of many. While it’s still in a newborn phase, the business milieu is adapting to the flows which results in many new projects attempting to build both AR/VR hardware and software. Last week we introduced the concepts of XR in the workplace and HR. This week we stay within the topic, and analyze the influence of the AR headset launch and application in the industry.
The path of augmentation chosen by Apple is a good strategy. It introduces semi-immersive reality to already established and running operations of businesses and enterprises. It is the easiest path to adoption — it builds on people’s activities and spatial habits. The current AR hardware offerings like Google Glass Enterprise Edition, Microsoft HoloLens and Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses are being piloted for applications ranging from factory work to field servicing to medical procedures. They still face several obstacles that limit their broader deployment at work including limited field of view, poor image quality, bulkiness, short battery life and high costs. Until recently, they remained mostly confined to niche use cases by early adopter companies. But as mentioned, we are entering a new phase, in which we can expect introduction of new models with both specialized and wider, general application.
In this article we would like to talk about the near future. Looking at current demands, we can expect a rise of XR adoption within the workplace, which will come in most cases in the form of adoption of AR glasses.
Improvement of the Workflow
How can augmented reality be helpful? Augmented reality glasses promise a wide range of benefits for knowledge workers and frontline employees. They work by overlaying digital information directly into their visual field, providing:
Access to information and data in context — AR glasses can provide workers with “just-in-time” access to manuals, checklists, troubleshooting guides and other informational resources precisely when needed and in the specific context of the task at hand. It’s a form of a contextual delivery of information that dramatically improves decision making, problem solving and work efficiency.
Assisted reality and “smart” glasses features — Advanced AR systems offer real-time guidance, step-by-step assistance, but on top of that also automation of routine tasks through features like object recognition, image analysis and sensor fusion. These “smart” functionalities promise to augment worker capabilities, catch errors and solve problems that historically required multiple people or lengthy consultations.
Hands-free access to tasks and notifications — Unlike smartphones and tablets, AR glasses allow workers to receive and act on information while keeping their hands free to perform physical tasks. The hands-free notification and task management capability reduces work interruptions and context switching.
Field studies suggest productivity gains of 20%-200% for certain AR-assisted procedures and workflows. That is done by automating mundane tasks, reducing errors, speeding access to information and supporting collaboration. The new modes of remote interaction and expertise sharing creates a “shared reality” among coworkers.
Current Limitations of AR Glasses
- The first and most important is the limited field of view. Most AR glasses have a narrow field of view — around 30 to 40 degrees — compared to the 150 to 200 degree range of normal human vision. This puts a constraint on the field of view and forces workers to frequently turn their heads and eyes to view augmented content, which reduces usability.
- The image resolution, contrast and brightness of AR displays still remain relatively low compared to conventional screens. Generated content also currently lacks true-to-life depth perception. These deficiencies can lead to eyestrain, headaches and difficulties interpreting overlaid information for long periods.
- Many existing AR glasses prototypes are large, heavy and obtrusive, making them uncomfortable to wear for extended durations. Poorly designed form factors lead to issues like facial pressure points, neck strain and even social stigma that limit acceptance.
- AR glasses currently cost thousands of dollars, restricting their availability mostly to large enterprises and early adopters. Many prototypes suffer from short battery lives of only a few hours, necessitating frequent recharging breaks that disrupt workflow.
These limitations have thus far prevented AR glasses from moving beyond niche use cases in controlled environments. But currently, there is a strong push towards fixing these issues to allow broader adoption and acceptance at workplaces. Advances across these dimensions are essential for unleashing the full potential benefits of AR in reimagining how work gets done.
Trends Driving Future Adoption at Work
Advancements in hardware and displays promise to make future AR glasses significantly smaller, lighter and higher resolution. Improvements in areas like waveguides, microdisplays and foldable OLED panels are leading to AR glasses that will offer wider fields of view and a more comfortable form factor. Such hardware innovations will be crucial for making AR glasses wearable and usable throughout an entire workday.
Improvements in connectivity, artificial intelligence and software are important for enhancement of the functions that AR glasses can perform. Faster 5G networks, edge computing and AI capabilities embedded directly into glasses will enable more resource-intensive applications. Concurrently, specialized software platforms are expanding the range of tasks that AR glasses can assist with through features like computer vision, voice control and hand tracking.
The broader availability of enterprise apps specifically designed for AR glasses will be a key driver of adoption as well. As use cases prove themselves in early deployments, a larger ecosystem of productivity, maintenance and training applications will emerge to meet the diverse needs of knowledge workers and frontline personnel across functions and industries. Many of these apps will be industry-specific and tailored to particular workflows.
The integration of AR glasses with other workplace technologies will further expand their utility. Interoperability with existing enterprise software, IoT sensors, robotics and machines will allow AR glasses to augment — rather than replace — existing tools. When embedded within holistic digital work environments, AR glasses unleash enormous synergies that further multiply their benefits.
Practical Considerations and Concerns
Privacy and security issues will need to be managed carefully as connectivity, sensors and AI capabilities embedded in AR glasses generate large amounts of sensitive data. Enterprises must put appropriate safeguards in place to ensure worker privacy is respected and data is secured from theft or unauthorized use. This includes implementing data security policies, encryption and access controls.
Additionally, there is a risk of distraction and reduced solubility awareness if AR glasses are overused in safety-critical environments. Enterprises will need policies to govern appropriate usage of AR glasses during high-risk work so that augmented information does not compromise workers’ ability to perceive hazards in their physical surroundings. Distraction policies, usage limits, and risk assessments may be needed.
Prolonged use of AR glasses can also lead to issues like gesture fatigue from manual input and cybersickness from visual-inertial mismatch — symptoms that are still not fully understood. Workers need to limit consecutive hours of AR glassware and their employers need to provide guidance for mitigating potential health impacts through ergonomic training, work breaks and hardware modifications.
Finally, legal and regulatory compliance issues may arise regarding the transparency, control, and accountability of data gathering enabled by AR glasses. As the technology develops, enterprises will likely need to stay abreast of evolving laws and regulations governing its responsible implementation in workplace settings. This could include obligations around informing and obtaining consent from workers.
Policies for Effective Use
As a follow up to the discussion about the concerns — for enterprises to reap the benefits of this technology while managing the risks, new policies and guidelines governing their use are needed. The primary focus lies on use restrictions, accommodation of new users, training and data protection:
- Guidelines for appropriate use at work that define when, where and how AR glasses can be worn to maximize benefits while minimizing potential health issues and distractions. That includes the possibility to restrict the use around safety-critical tasks, driving and interacting with customers, which should be enforced consistently.
- Processes for accommodating non-adopters who choose not to wear AR glasses for various reasons. An inclusive policy would ensure that workers without AR glasses are not disadvantaged and can perform their roles effectively through traditional means. Reasonable accommodations may need to be made available.
- Training and support resources that educate workers on proper and responsible usage of AR glasses. This may involve information on ergonomics, health and safety precautions, data privacy and security best practices, as well as guidance for resolving any technical issues that arise.
- Clear guidelines for the use of data generated from AR glasses, including requirements for worker notification, consent and access rights. The policy would need to specify the purposes for which data may be collected and used, as well as security and retention procedures. Transparency around data practices is important to gain worker trust.
Conclusion
Technological advances in hardware, software and artificial intelligence are gradually overcoming the limitations that currently restrict AR glasses adoption, pointing to a future in which they become ubiquitous work tools. For AR glasses to fulfill their promise at scale, enterprises will need to take a proactive role in innovating responsible and ethical applications that maximize benefits while managing risks. The focus should be put on adaptation to specific work challenges, integration with existing workflows, and the development of responsible policies around issues like data privacy, distraction mitigation, occupational health and legal compliance. This will balance technological opportunities with the complex human realities of the workplace and ensure wellbeing, autonomy and equity.
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