How Mixed Reality Will Bring Us Industry 4.0

More sectors are realizing the potential of immersive technology to dramatically maximize efficiency and profits.

When I demoed the Daqri Worksense Mixed Reality application at the Pioneers conference in Vienna a couple of months ago, what struck me the most — apart from the fact that I was told the glasses made me look like a Minion — was that the visuals were much sharper, and that the additional definition made it feel like this could really be a tool that you could feel comfortable using on a routine basis for longer periods of time — unlike most headset-based immersive experiences at the moment.

The most obviously useful functionality of these devices is the ability to do video calls on a “you see what I see” basis. You’re wearing the smart glasses, looking at the real-world scenario in front of you, yet at the same time you have this (hopefully) friendly and expert voice in your head telling you how to proceed. When I tried Microsoft Remote Assist with the HoloLens back in May at Microsoft Build I was able to “repair” a complex electrical panel in a matter of minutes. Of course it was a staged demo scenario, but the principle stands. With this type of guidance, you can instantly turn a layperson into at least a semi-competent pair of hands — Forget games and gimmicks. For me, this is where Mixed Reality gets really exciting.