The following partners were in support of the massive global event and you can see them here.  Partner logos were shown on rotating slides in each livestream:

From the AREA a big thank you to Emily Friedman who has organized and promoted AWE and now moves on to other projects with BrainXChange, an AREA member. We wish Emily all the best with all that BrainXChange has planned.

AWE in the News

Hear what the press had to say about the event: Highlighted coverage:

AR Post

Auganix

USA TODAY

VR World Tech

Forbes

Catch up on all the major announcements made at AWE Online 2020: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Check out who won the 11th Annual Auggie Awards, plus the Nextant Awards presented by Virtual World Society.

AWE on Social

Catch up on what Twitter had to say using the official hashtag #AWE2020.

“Due to the coronavirus pandemic all forms of telecommunications are more important than ever. We use our brains more effectively when we feel more proximity while communicating with a person that is not in the same room ,” said Alexander Lautz, SVP of 5G, Deutsche Telekom . “ However, today’s mass market tools – telephony, messaging, document sharing, video calling – lack the level of immersion needed by themselves. XR technology enablers are crucial to enhancing telecommunications services to offer digital social proximity. Deutsche Telekom is proud to sponsor the Global Resource Guide to XR Collaboration which educates us all on what is possible already today .”

XR Collaboration Platform Directory

Included in the updates to the site is a robust search tool categorizing the feature sets and capabilities of each XR platform, including the primary industry they support. Each of the 70+ XR Collaboration platforms host a profile about their solution.

Accessibility Considerations

XR Access joined the coalition providing content supporting Accessibility in the Global Resource Guide highlighting XR collaboration considerations before implementation into business and education systems. Governments and organisations will be able to use this resource to support digital implementation for those with disabilities remotely working and learning from home.

Audio Podcast Release

Supporting accessibility, XR Collaboration released the audio podcast of the Global

Resource Guide narrated by Alan Smithson, Host of the XR For Business Podcast. The recordings are available on Apple Podcast , Spotify , and Google Play .

Importance of Presence

The PDF Resource Guide introduces the importance of human connectivity through

digital presence & audio podcast contribution by Caitlin Krause , MindWise Learning,

Leadership & Wellbeing Specialist. The recordings are available on Apple Podcast ,

Spotify , and Google Play

Please visit the website XRCollaboration.com where the XR Collaboration PDF

Resource Guide & Platform Directory will be periodically updated.

Current Version 4 – May 28, 2020

About The Coalition

ABOUT XR IGNITE INC

XR Ignite is a community hub and virtual accelerator for XR startups, studios, and developers to connect

with customers who want to solve large business challenges.

ABOUT DEUTSCHE TELEKOM

Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies, with some

184 million mobile customers, 27,5 million fixed-network lines, and 21 million broadband lines. Leading in customer experience, leading in technology, and leading in business productivity and pioneering sustainability.

ABOUT QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES

Qualcomm is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator and the driving force behind the

development, launch, and expansion of 5G. Qualcomm Incorporated includes licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of the patented portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of their products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business.

ABOUT METAVRSE INC

MetaVRse hosts a suite of tools including 3D Web Engine for business & education and offering custom VR/AR development and professional services supporting the democratization of education.

ABOUT POWERSIMPLE, LLC

Building innovative web solutions since the ‘90s, Powersimple is focused on powering WebXR, the Spatial Web, Social VR and Volumetric Content with data for Events, Journalism Advertising, Education and Civics.

ABOUT THE AREA

The Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance ( AREA ) is the only global non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to widespread adoption of interoperable AR-enabled enterprise systems.

ABOUT XR BOOTCAMP & VR FIRST

VR First has successfully democratized VR/AR. at the intersection of industry and academia, VR First has seen the needs of the industry and decided to move forward with XR Bootcamp , striving to move the whole XR industry forward, equipping it with the talents they need to develop the most immersive VR/AR content.

ABOUT THE VRARA

The VR/AR Association ( VRARA ) is an international organization designed to foster collaboration between innovative companies and brands in the VR and AR ecosystem.

ABOUT AWE

Augmented World Expo (AWE) is the leading AR/VR event series in the world. AWE hosts four annual events (Silicon Valley, Munich, Asia, Tel Aviv) and has meetup chapters all over the world. Their mission is advancing Augmented Reality to Advance Humanity. Our Goal: 1 billion active users of AR by 2020.

ABOUT XR ACCESS

The XR Access Initiative is supported by Cornell Tech, Verizon Media, and the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT).

In addition to the new version, Mozilla has also announced that it is releasing the browser in conjunction with the company’s new partner, Pico Interactive. Mozilla is teaming up to bring its VR browsing technology to Pico’s headsets, including the Neo 2 – an all-in-one device with 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) head and controller tracking. Firefox Reality will be released and shipped with all Pico headsets, and will be available in the Pico store for existing Pico device owners to download.

Transition from WebVR to WebXR

In terms of new features, Firefox Reality now supports the WebXR API. which is the successor to the WebVR spec. WebXR provides a host of improvements in cross-device functionality and tooling for both VR and AR applications. With WebXR, a site can support a wide variety of controller devices without writing support for each one individually, as the API takes care of choosing the right controls for actions such as selecting and grabbing objects.

Users can now use WebXR applications in Firefox Reality 10. For developers that want to build their own WebXR applications, they can view the MDN Docs for the WebXR API. Furthermore, developers working with Unity who want to explore developing WebXR applications can view Mozilla’s Unity WebXR Exporter.

However, Mozilla states that with the majority of VR-enabled web content being WebVR content, despite the upgrade to WebXR, the Firefox Reality 10 release still continues to support WebVR, making Firefox Reality 10 the only standalone browser that supports both WebVR and WebXR experiences, according to Mozilla.

The company states that this will help its partners and the developer community to transition to WebXR without worrying that audiences will lose functionality immediately. Mozilla added that it will eventually deprecate WebVR though, and that it is currently working on a timeline for removing WebVR support. Information on this timeline will be shared with the developer community well in advance of any action.

Gaze support

Another useful feature included in the version 10 release is gaze navigation support. This allows viewers to navigate within the browser without controllers, using only head movement and headset buttons. This option is ideal for users who may not be able to use controllers, or for use with headsets that don’t include controllers or allow users to unbind controllers. The video below demonstrates this feature on the Pico Neo 2. The user is able to scroll, select and type, all without the use of a physical controller.

Dual-controller typing, download management, and tracking protection

In addition to gaze support, Mozilla is introducing dual-controller typing to create a more natural keyboard experience. Furthermore, Firefox Reality 10 will also allow users to download files and manage previously downloaded files. Users can now view, sort and delete downloads without leaving the browser.

Finally, the addition of Mozilla’s enhanced tracking protection makes users aware of potential privacy issues and allows users to fully control privacy settings, from notifications of user activity tracking to an updated “Privacy and Security” UI.

Firefox Reality 10 is available for download today from the Pico, HTC and Oculus app stores.

 Read the original article.

Covid-19 has sidelined these experts for now, but transportation is critical during a pandemic, and fixing cars is often a problem that can’t wait. That’s where Porsche’s “Tech Live Look” glasses come in.  The Tech Live Look is built using a platform by Atheer.

Tech Live Look are smartglasses that use augmented reality to project images or instructions onto the surfaces of the lenses. They’re worn by the dealerships’ mechanics while they’re working on complicated repairs that require assistance from the German brand’s in-house technicians, and connect them with these remote groups. In many instances they’ve replaced the lengthy phone conversations they used to have with technicians, and have shortened repair times by 40%, the company says.

“It accelerates the service on the vehicle and, most importantly, helps ensure customers’ mobility at a critical time.” Doug House, Technical Support Manager for Porsche Cars North America.

The company announced the program in 2017, and completed its nation-wide rollout earlier this year. The timing couldn’t have been better. With the field experts unable to visit dealerships in person, the number of TLL sessions has more than tripled from February to March and is being used once per day on average. The trend has continued into April.

Rather than taking photos and sending them over email, the smartglasses use real-time video to enable the tech team at headquarters to see what the mechanics sees from hundred of miles away. Screenshots, technical bulletins, and directions can be sent to the mechanics that they can view while they’re working on the car.

Dealership technicians have been able to work directly with Porsche’s support team at its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta and also with experts in Germany for more complex vehicle investigation.

This is especially true for the Volvo Group, which had a nearly 260,000 order in-takes for trucks in 2018. To adapt to this changing landscape, Volvo is undertaking significant digital transformation and industry 4.0 initiatives, rethinking how it improves its physical processes, products, and people with current and emerging technologies.

The Challenge

Volvo prides itself on strategically differentiating its vehicles on quality and engineering excellence. In today’s rapidly changing market, customization has become the new normal. This presents new quality assurance challenges as product complexity and unique configurations increase in volume and rate of change.

“Volvo’s engines are very sophisticated with 4,500 different engine information variants for just one plant and 13,000 variants for the full plant for referencing,” explains Geoffrey Blanc, Manufacturing Technology Manager at Volvo.

Engine quality control and assurance in Volvo’s manufacturing plants are subject to rigorous quality checks, a task reserved for Volvo’s most experienced technicians. In one plant, each engine requires 40 checks, with 200 possible quality assurance (QA) variants, which must be completed at the QA station in only eight minutes.

Training new operators on these complex inspection procedures takes five weeks, which adds to the overall cost of quality. The laborious process is paper-based, not only creating extraneous cognitive load for the operators, but also mobilizing time and resources to update, print, and distribute QA materials regularly.

Indeed, the challenge is to establish and maintain a consistent data flow and systems connections to create operational efficiency across the value chain. “As we know, the trucking market is subject to significant variations. To us, flexibility in the plants means how fast we can implement new shifts in production to follow the market,” says Bertrand Felix, Manufacturing Innovation and Technology Manager, Volvo Group.

Volvo piloted an incumbent augmented reality (AR) provider to improve engine quality control processes but found the offering incapable of scaling and integrating across applications, processes, and desired use cases.

As they looked at alternate solutions, agile support for the increasing product complexity and custom configurations coming out of engineering and upstream manufacturing processes and scalability across global operations were critical requirements.

Read the full story on PTC’s website – case studies. 

Protective face shields 3D printed for NHS workers https://www.amrc.co.uk/news/amrc-3d-prints-protective-face-shields-for-nhs-workers Joe Palmer, the Senior Design and Development Engineer who is leading the AMRC’s response, said the team has coordinated its efforts with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to ensure visors are being delivered to the local hospitals with the greatest need.

He said: “We know these visors are needed now and not in a few weeks’ time, so we’re really pleased that we were able to get almost 1,000 out of the door by Monday and into the hands of the frontline NHS workers who so desperately need them in order to stay protected as they battle this deadly virus to save lives.

Find out which manufacturers have been involved in the COVID19 ventilator challenge.  As part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is closely involved in the discussions with Government to step up production of vital medical equipment, such as ventilators.

In addition to the Prime Minister’s briefing, the call has gone out from Government for anyone who supplies ventilator equipment to step forward. There is also a further challenge to the wider engineering and manufacturing community to fast-track a simpler ventilator system. We understand that five design companies, with a medical equipment track record, are now working on five specifications, with clinical input. These specifications will be reviewed by a group at PA Consulting, which is acting as project manager for this challenge. We understand that the five specifications will be down-selected to one or more key contenders. This will then be the opportunity for the engineering community to look at a specification.

Continue reading the story in full.

AR training simulator software are intended to train users for a certain role in a partially virtual environment. Trainees utilize the augmented reality in these solutions to learn the vital skills needed for a new job. These differ from virtual reality training simulators, as the latter provides training simulations to users in a completely immersive, virtual environment. By integrating 3D images into the real world using a phone or other mobile device with a camera, AR training simulators replicate real-life situations, which makes the learning experience more retainable and engaging.

Market Drivers include increasing Demand for AI-Based Applications.  Growing Interest of the Large Tech Companies in AR Training Simulation.  And thirdly, rising demand in Training and Skill Development by Various Companies to Train Employees for Certain Jobs.

Market Trends include High Adoption Of 3D visualization In Medical Sector and an upsurge in Demand from AI-based Applications in Retail and E-commerce Sector

Restraints revolve around Limited User Interface (UI) Affecting the Navigation Performance of AR Applications

Opportunities include Rising Expenditure in Training Simulation Technology. Technological Advancement and Development in the AR and Rising Adoption of the AI Technology

Current Challenges were found to be Low Adoption Rate due to Privacy Issues and Complexities in the Design and a lack of Skilled Working Professionals

Free Sample Report request link.

The digital curriculum components are available now for purchase by other utilities, with pricing and terms based on a co-marketing agreement.

MidAmerican is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy that serves 791,000 electric and 771,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Nebraska. As the cornerstone of a project to combine two time-based apprenticeship programs into a single, competency-based hybrid program, MidAmerican’s new digital curriculum is now being used to train all its gas technician apprentices.

Index AR Solutions worked side-by-side with MidAmerican trainers during the modernization effort, pairing AR and eBook learning tools to create a highly experiential learning platform with rich visual, auditory and tactile elements. Company operating standards and safety rules are also included for reference and contextually embedded into step-by-step procedures.

The curriculum is divided into four six-month phases built around interactive eBook multimedia learning experiences that are loaded on each apprentice’s work tablet for use during instructor-led classroom training, remote self-study and field work. Visual augmentations, 3D animations and detailed schematics teach apprentices how to identify key parts or complete common tasks. The augmentations also walk the apprentice through what PPE and tools are needed for each step and overlay critical information on to the area they are working.

Instructional videos are also embedded into the eBook modules, each one featuring MidAmerican’s own represented workforce. The videos emphasize the importance of safety and commitment to customer service – with seasoned workers who share wisdom and real-world stories from the field.

“Backed by the AR apps, videos and other rich content, the eBooks have become a valuable repository of our workforce’s knowledge, while also training and developing our future journeymen,” said Mike Hoff, director of business optimization and innovation at MidAmerican Energy Company.

MidAmerican expects to also benefit from the portability of the digital curriculum. Since content is downloaded to their company-issued Apple iPads, apprentices engage the material for training or field reference immediately. Training initiatives now take place consistently across geographically distributed teams, even in the event of business disruptions.

“Index is proud to work with innovative companies like MidAmerican who are using technology to chart the future of workforce education, and we look forward to partnering with other forward-thinking utilities who wish to augment their own workers – from the classroom to the field,” said Dan Arczynski, CEO, Index AR Solutions.

For more information, including product videos, data sheets, case studies and media coverage, please visit Index AR Solutions.

Even in times of global pandemic, no one has to be alone. COVID-19 has forced us apart, but technology makes it possible for us to work, learn, and interact with one another, while remaining physically distant. Businesses are being forced to remotely work from home and Educational institutions must rapidly transition from in-classroom learning to learning from home.

XR Collaboration tools are emerging as viable alternatives — not to replace current video conferencing, but to augment through spatial understanding. By sharing fully-immersive spaces with others, we begin to bridge the physical gap opening up a whole new world of communication possibilities.

We are all in this together, and we will continue to thrive, no matter what the future holds. Stay safe and productive, and remember: it is the personal connections we make each day that make us human. So let’s put this technology to use to bring us together like never before.

Mark Sage, Executive Director of The AREA, said: “The AREA actively supports this @XRCollaboration Resource Guide and website that will help educators, organisations and their staff improve communications and collaboration in these difficult times and the future.”

Visit the XR Collaboration Website

Get the Guide

In just a few short months, we have found ourselves in a new reality. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the day to day lives of millions of people and placed safety at the top of our list of concerns.

Our key purpose at this moment is to support the organizations and front line teams that are risking their lives every day to ensure our well being and safety.

As a result, we stand by to support you with as many licenses as you may need of the Atheer AR platform, at no cost, until the end of June 2020. All licenses, on-boarding, and support will be provided by Atheer for free with no commitment of any type required. 

We hope that by helping you better support your front line teams and  customers, not only are you keeping people safe, but also keeping the economy moving.

Let us know how we can help.

Stay safe.

Regards,

Amar

https://content.atheerair.com/en/atheer-covid-19-response