An article published by Engineering.com covers a cross section of Augmented Reality headsets with a specific focus on the ones that the author believes shows the most promise for engineering applications, particularly in the areas of training, maintenance, visualization and collaboration.

The article explores the different types of devices making use of AR technology: tablet, smartphone, Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), smart glasses, visors, helmets and AR contact lenses. The point is made that the most immersive experiences can only be achieved with the larger displays which is the reason so many devices are large.

The article explores some key terminology such as Field of View (FoV), frame rate refresh rate and virtual retinal display (VRD) before going on to look at the potential uses for engineers of the headsets featured in the article.

Customers and potential customers looking to find out detailed information about what’s currently on the market will find useful technical comparative information in this article.

The DAQRI Smart Helmet is first up, manufactured by AREA member DAQRI. The helmet has its own battery and docking station and weighs only as much as a normal industrial hard hat. The smart helmet varies in price, since its features are custom built. Autodesk, GE and Hyperloop are currently testing the smart helmet in situ. The other headsets featured on the list include Metavisions’ Meta 2 and Microsoft HoloLens, a mixed reality headset or holographic computer.

Features of all the HMDs are explored in detail before the article goes on to provide a cross section comparison of alternate AR headsets, including Google Glass, R-7 Smartglasses, Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses and Moverio Pro BT-2000.

The following information is taken from an article on Newsweek by Anthony Cuthbertson.

A patent has been published in August by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, depicting a device very similar to the original Google Glass. It includes an Augmented Reality lens and camera. In addition, the new version has removable AA batteries, which would not need to be removed for charging.

Google Glass sales stopped in 2015. Limited applications and the invasive head-mounted camera were said to be responsible for its failure. According to Robert Scoble, a notable tech blogger who was one of the first to try Google Glass, this was due to various issues that include:

• Not enough utility to withstand the cost at $1500
• Inadequate camera
• Short battery life
• Small, low-resolution display

Through its “Glass at Work” program, Google has maintained research on the device. The scheme aims to promote its application in the education and healthcare sectors, so this is one for enterprise clients to keep an eye on.

At the AREA we continually sift through industry publications and blogs on the topic of enterprise Augmented Reality. Some news contains product developments as well as historical and background information about AR. Recently, many have focused on Pokémon Go; here is a roundup of articles we thought may interest our readers:

1. On the Metavision blog, an interactive history timeline of AR development is shared.
2. “Enterprise to Drive Augmented Reality Growth,” by Channel News Australia.
3. Prepare for the AR Workplace: The Tech behind Pokemon Go Will Be in Offices Sooner Than You Think.
4. AREA member DAQRI gets a mention in this article about their smart helmet for industrial use.
5. The following article explores how Apple will use technology in the future to secure its long-term growth. Augmented Reality gets a significant mention in its potential to increase iPhone sales. In addition, wearable technology such as smart glasses, which will shape the AR space, will drive further potential for Apple in the future.

A video on the Next Gov website shows how the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Augmented Reality diving helmet can be used to help salvage operations and rescue missions, especially in water that has very poor visibility.

Although the AREA had previously reported this technology, this video is a great visual reminder of how the technology works and is a good introduction for those who had not previously seen the Divers Augmented Vision Display, or DAVD.

The system includes a see-through device that makes use of smart glasses technology. Divers get real time visual display with items such as sonar, text messages, diagrams and photos. The video shows the diver helmet cam showing how poor visibility can make some dives very difficult.

The built-in prototype smart glasses create a transparent heads-up display. Crews on the above the water can send diagrams to assist in salvage and rescue missions. Sonar imaging shows divers their exact position, as well as the location of any missing underwater objectives for which they might be searching.

Advantages of the helmet include increased visibility, decreased amount of time taken to complete the mission and the fact that the advent of smart glasses technology is making devices such as this more affordable.

This is another example of how Augmented Reality is being used in workplace settings, particularly field service, to improve efficiency and outcomes for enterprises and organizations. In-water testing will begin in October 2016.

An interesting article on EE News website uses Pokémon Go as a springboard to look at how Augmented Reality technology is being used in enterprise, specifically in the energy industry.

Examples quoted include:

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory shows in a video how researchers use the same Geographic Information System (GIS) as in Pokémon Go, to assess water and energy demand.
• NextGen Climate is targeting Pokémon hotspots to find new supporters and hosting events with solar-powered charging stations.
• Eric Abbruzzese, a senior analyst at ABI Research is quoted as saying there is a lot of interest in the energy space. Oil and gas companies are making use of Augmented Reality and according to ABI research, the industrial sector is expected to comprise 44% of smart glasses revenue within five years<./li>

Notably, AREA Member Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has been testing similar technology to boost efficiencies in the electricity industry. Detailed information on their work is given in the article and summarized below:

• John Simmins of EPRI, who is leading their augmented reality testing, gives a number of detailed examples of how AR technology can be used for energy savings in the field.
• For example, after a major storm, workers dispatched to assess damage may not have as much expertise as usual line workers. By using a smart helmet or glasses, they can find hard-to-find power lines or transformers. The information can be sent to HQ with voice command, meaning increased speed, reduced outage time and error reduction.
• Other applications include malfunction detection, training and dramatically reducing the need for experts to travel long distances to make repairs and solve problems, when AR technology means this could be done remotely.
• The DAQRI Smart Helmet is mentioned in the article as being particularly useful in the oil and gas industry where workers require both a hard hat and free hands.

There is also a link to an EPRI video demonstrating inspection equipment with a smart helmet, shown below.

Links to the member company profiles can be accessed here: EPRI profile and DAQRI profile.

Commuter rail is a new industry to also be taking advantage of Augmented Reality. The Keolis Commuter Services (KCS) will provide the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) workers with smart glasses in order to aid communications, increase repair speed, and lower disruptions, according to an article on TechnologyReview.com. The start-up company was incorporated in January, and the new technology is set to be released in September 2016.

The software that will be used is called AMA XpertEye, which buys the smart glasses from companies such as Epson and Google, and adds its own operating system onto them. This allows the wearer to hold conversations and video chats from the field with colleagues situated in other locations, for example an office.

Technological features:
• Image annotations can be made
• Screenshots of the video can be taken
• The video can be saved for future replay
• Encrypted connection that can use 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet cable
• Enhances people’s vision via image processing
• Useful for companies in maintenance, monitoring, and training

Benefits to the company of the technology:
• Will help keep more trains in service
• Will save mechanics a 30 minute walk
• KCS would not have to transport trains to the main facility if damage occurred
• Workers could easily fix a problem if they can consult experts (efficient communication)
• Workers will learn more through a visual experience—ease of use and training
• Drivers may be able to make emergency repairs

In addition, there are other uses for AMA XpertEyes’ technology; car manufacturers can oversee auto repairs, security guards and factory managers can survey buildings, and insurance companies can observe property damage. Ultimately, ease of use for existing employees will be the most important factor in the investment decision-making process.

A report in the Business section of Republic News reveals that a new study by Research Corridor has provided an extensive view of the smart glasses and smart windows industry. It has taken into account present and future features of the market, analyzing ongoing trends and market dynamics, and offers a data forecast. The report, which is both quantitative and qualitative, covers different product definitions, classifications and participants in the industry chain structure.

The market is segmented into geographic regions:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Rest of the World (consisting of Latin America, the Middle East and Africa)

Regional factors such as inflation rate, demographics and gross domestic product (GDP) have been thoroughly analysed as part of the report.

In addition to the 2015-2022 forecast, estimates for the market have been made for 2013 and 2014. As well as a discussion of key strategies, the report concludes with a section on company profiles containing information on financials of the major players in the market, as well as fundamental developments.

The headline scope and features include, but are not confined to, the following:

• Key Developments
• Market Overview & Growth
• Import and Export Overview
• Market Trends and Future Outlook
• Attractive Investment Proposition
• Key Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

Readers can access the complete report at here.

According to an article on Tech Republic, a Deloitte survey released last week shows that middle market companies are now up to date with technology, and are strategically investing in the Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual reality and Augmented reality in order to overtake competitors. They are also realizing the importance of innovative tech as a way of expanding their business, both now and in the future.

Steven Keathley, the National Technology Leader of Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services (DGES), is quoted to have said that IT is becoming more important as a driving force for technology and rather than simply acting as a support function for businesses. In the report, Harvey Michaels, the national consulting leader for the DGES, is quoted to have said that technology is speeding up the growth of smaller companies and becoming a differentiating feature in the middle market.

The survey was conducted in June and July this year, and was aimed at 500 US middle market company executives with annual revenues of $100 million to $1 billion. Almost 90% of middle market companies responded to the Deloitte survey using some form of Virtual or Augmented Reality, and 19% of respondents said they are spending more money on technology in 2016 than in previous years.

Out of the companies currently developing IoT projects, half of them said they are using hybrid cloud monitoring, and a similar number are using smart industrial devices. In addition, 54% of companies said that security is one of their main reasons for investing in cloud technology.

An article on Automation World details the release of the VuMark customizable codes, which will be particularly relevant for industrial maintenance. VuMark’s customizable symbols launch Augmented Reality applications. Just as QR codes can be used to access websites, Augmented Reality has its own code marks used to launch Augmented Reality applications. Unlike QR codes, with their standard format and appearance, AR codes can now be customized. These marks can be quite varied in appearance.

VuMark’s customizable visual codes can be attached to any product or object. The codes are available from PTC as part of the Vuforia 6 development suite. The codes can be placed on any product or machine. The VuMark is a visual indicator that an AR experience is available. For example, this might be instructions for assembly, or for use in inspection or repair. The article explores the relevance of this increased efficiency in training and remote assistance to industry operations.

The VuMark Designer application enables Adobe Illustrator users to create VuMarks from existing graphics and brand assets for example logos, which will make them visually appealing and also encode any type of data needed for accessing an AR experience. There are links to two PTC videos showing industry applications from Sysmex Corporation and KTM Motorcycles.

A Business Wire press release issued on August 8, 2016, states that a study by Technavio reveals that the global smart glasses market is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of close to 20% during the period 2016-2020. The report, entitled “Global Smart Glass Market 2016-2020,” can be read here. It provides a detailed analysis of the revenues and emerging trends associated with the market and also includes up-to-date analysis and forecasts for various market segments across geographic regions.

Industry growth has been driven by growth in industries such as aviation and marine, as well as by the shift in demand from passive to active smart glasses innovations.

The article covers the difference between active and passive smart glasses. Active smart glasses react to an electrical stimulus to initiate change. Passive smart glasses react to heat and UV light sources to initiate change. With active smart glasses, the change in the light transmission can be user controlled. The report categorizes the global smart glasses market into three major segments and looks at their use cases in transportation, infrastructure development, electronics, construction and solar energy applications.