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Mental illness affects one in four people across the world, making it one of the most pressing issues of our day. The prevalence of wars, economic instability, social tensions, and instances of random violence across the globe have pushed many past the point where they can cope effectively. For those who seek therapeutic solutions to restore their emotional wellbeing, virtual reality therapy offers new hope.

Even the American Psychological Association (APA) has determined VR “particularly well suited to exposure therapy”, dispelling whatever doubt or criticisms may be looming.

A solid understanding of VR therapy is crucial for mental health care providers, if they are to deliver the most effective treatments available, today. In this article, we will explore this emerging field, and see a few examples of how VR technology is already establishing itself as the most effective therapeutic tool to come along in decades.

But first, let’s look closer at how virtual reality works.

What is Virtual Reality Therapy?

VR Therapy Basics

As the therapeutic application of virtual reality technology evolves, so will the ways it can be used to treat certain psychological disorders. For now, VR headsets and immersive software are being used primarily for the treatment of anxiety disorders using a technique knowns as Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET).

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Bravemind Project

Like conventional anxiety-treatment methods, VRET works by exposing patients to their anxiety triggers within a controlled environment. As with any exposure therapy, the objective is to condition patients to respond positively to events that bring about their particular anxiety, rather than experiencing physiological stress associated with the original trauma that caused their anxiety disorder. However, the immersive and interactive power of VR offers numerous benefits beyond conventional treatment methods:

• VR technology enables mental health practitioners to design highly individualized treatment plans based on the unique needs of their patients.
• VRET is superior to conventional treatment methods in allowing patients greater control over their own exposure. Virtual reality experiences can be designed to be highly interactive, allowing patients to maintain a sense of control even as they experience anxiety triggers.
• VRET offers a drug-free method of reducing trauma-related anxiety.
• A well-designed VR treatment program can offer improved cost-effectiveness over conventional treatment programs.
• The immersive power of VR provides a more engaging and more authentic experience, which results in greater effectiveness.
• Unlike conventional anxiety-treatment programs, VR apps empower patients to continue their own treatment at home, which significantly increases the long-term effectiveness of the treatment.

VR therapy will not in all cases replace conventional treatment methods. But even as an adjunct therapy, it offers exciting advantages over standard treatments, alone.

Full Sensory VR Therapy

VRET can do more than provide visual simulations of scenes that trigger patients’ anxiety. Although the immersive aspect of VR, alone, is a powerful tool, more elements can be added to a treatment program to reduce its duration and improve its long-term effectiveness.

In addition to life-like three-dimensional graphics, VRET can expose the patient to a number of stimuli that simulate the user’s real-life anxiety triggers. Depending on the hardware used, various combinations of the following triggers can be produced:

• Sounds
• Tactile sensations
• Smells
• Wind
• Temperature extremes
• Acoustic effects
• Tilting/dropping
• Moisture or rain

For example, treatment of battlefield PTSD can not only submerge the patient in an authentic 360-degree battlefield. It can also simulate the smell and heat of artillery fire, along with simulated acoustic shockwaves as enemy artillery “explodes” near the patient. No other technology or therapy method can match the realism VR offers.

Of course, therapists monitor the patient’s heart rate, respiration, and other vital signs during treatment. If the patient becomes too anxious during the session, the therapist can cut the session short, or modify the exposure scenes.

Advanced treatment systems will eventually monitor the user’s physiological response and tailor the VR session in real time to achieve the most optimum result. Actually, the technology exists, now, to support such treatment programs. All that is needed is for developers to innovate in this crucial area.

Dell, for one, is providing a $100,000 grant for the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. UCLA will use the grant to advance itss virtual reality exposure therapy prototype, called Bravemind. The prototype focuses specifically on treating war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Disorders Treated By VR Therapy

Virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD is one of the most common uses of VR in the therapy industry, but many other applications also exist. Through careful program design and some creative technical innovation, VR can be used to treat a wide variety of phobias and disorders. Here is a partial list of those:

• Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD)
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Agoraphobia (fear of places, especially public places)
• Acrophobia (fear of heights)
• Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)
• Pteromerhanophobia (fear of flying)
• Glossophobia (fear of public speaking)
• Panic attacks
• Sleep disorders
• Autism
• Pain management
• Stage fright
• Mood disorders
• Addictive behaviors

The list of phobias and other disorders numbers in the hundreds. Fortunately, VR can effectively treat the majority of these economically and effectively.

As professionals learn to use virtual reality therapy for phobias, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, pain management, and other patient needs, the technology will mature to include even more effective solutions.

VR Therapy Solutions

The prevalence of emotional and psychological disorders has created a wide and deep market for products that promise improved results, including VR technology. Here are some examples of apps and professional platforms that provide VR therapeutic solutions.

Examples of Clinical VR Therapy

Here are a couple of examples of VR therapy being used by large-scale medical facilities.

Cedars-Sinai, an early adopter of VR technology for healthcare, has partnered with a Los Angeles technology provider to develop VR-based therapeutic solutions for the hospital’s patients. The project focus is on helping patients who suffer from anxiety disorders, and those who need assistance with pain management. In one study, patients reported a 24% drop in pain scores after using the therapy.

Duke Psychiatry and behavioral Sciences offers VR therapy for those afraid of heights, elevators, thunderstorms, flying, and who harbor fears of public speaking. Duke, a world-renown hospital and medical research center, provides the therapy within the therapists offices.

VR Therapy Apps

VR offers a tremendous advantage over conventional treatment methods — mobility. Not only can patients benefit from self-guided treatments outside the clinic, but persons who may have not sought professional assistance might find relief in one of the many therapy apps on the market. Here are just a few:

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia offers self-guided exposure therapy for those who have an irrational of spiders. With five levels of exposure, the user is exposed to an increasing number of spiders in the room. As if that were not enough of a stresser, you are not allowed to move your hands or arms during the session. Over time, you can condition yourself to spiders being near you — without your fight or flight response kicking in and causing you to scurry frantically in search of the nearest shoe.

Fear of Heights

A large percentage of the population experiences a fear of heights. From mild dizziness when looking out of a second-story window to full panic when riding an escalator, most of those who suffer would try anything to avoid triggering their anxiety.

Richie’s Plank Experience places you on a plank, 80 stories above ground. You are encouraged to use a physical plank for added immersion. For those who might be afraid of both heights and spiders, you can elect to have spiders waiting at the end of your plank.

Samsung offers two 360-video apps designed to help users overcome the fear of heights. CityScapes and Landscapes allow users to experience an elevator, skywalk, virtually created tower, cliff driving, heli-skiing, and crossing a suspension bridge — all using 360-degree video.

Fear of Public Speaking

The fear of public speaking grips businessmen and women, authors, and even celebrities. Limelight gives you the option of appearing in a business meeting, small classroom or in a large hall as you give a speech. You can select audience size, and even adjust the mood of the audience.

Relaxation

For many people, simply being able to relax is the one of the greatest challenges. Deep encourages a sense of tranquility by placing the user in a serene underwater world where stress, anxiety, and depression can melt away.

Designed for the HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, and Oculus Rift, Guided Meditation VR gives the user a choice of peaceful environments from around the world, from a lush rainforest to a Japanese temple, in which to relax and recharge.

Relax VR is an iPhone app that allows the user to enjoy a wide range of calming visual and sound experiences, including the beach, ocean, wind, waves, streams, crickets, and more. Experiences are set in one of ten locations, from Wineglass Bay, Australia, to a tropical Beach in the Philippines.

Sleeping

Created by Virtually Better, Inc., Relax Soothe Sleep: The Nap App is designed to help children deal with sleep disorders. Through a series of fun lessons, videos, and exercises, the child learns ways to prepare for a good night’s sleep. A parent section allows the parent to track their child’s progress.

VR Therapy Platforms

While few professional therapists might be willing to admit that VR could disrupt their industry, that hasn’t stopped them from adopting it. The following is but a short list of VR therapy platforms utilized by professionals to help treat their patients.

Applied VR provides clinicians with the VR hardware and training to use VR in the treatment of anxiety, and for pain management. The subscription-based service includes 20+ content modules for treating a variety of patient needs.

Limbix helps practitioners to treat patients suffering from anxiety, phobias, and who need pain management techniques. Real-world footage is incorporated into 306-degree videos designed to help patients deal with the challenges they face.

Psious offers more than exposure therapy experiences, it provides a variety of reports, graphs, and other aids to help monitor patient progress.

Verapy provides the platform, VR viewer, and software needed to treat patients with various disorders and rehabilitation needs. A complete set of patient tracking and data analysis tools are included.

Even though apps may help certain individuals in self-guided therapy, they should never be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

How Can Appeal-VR Help?

Virtual reality offers relief for hundreds of thousands who suffer from anxiety disorders and who need help with non-narcotic pain management. VR therapy has already proven its value in treating patients who do not respond to conventional therapy, and in augmenting conventional treatment programs. Furthermore, collaborations between technology providers, insurance companies, and healthcare providers ensure that technological and financial investment resources will be there to grow this important market.

But where do you stand? Are you prepared to transform the psychotherapy industry, or will you watch as others turn your ideas into profitable solutions?

If you are ready to turn you concept into a marketable VR therapy product, we invite you to partner with AppReal-VR. We bring innovative solutions to companies around the world, and we specialize in VR and AR technology. Our world-class developers are experts in VR platforms, mobile app development, and in creating feature-rich solutions that are also scalable and robust.

Why not contact us today for a no-cost consultation?

The VR travel industry may be in its infancy, but if you expect to see baby steps leading to market adoption, think again. Digital travel sales are expected to reach $198 billion this year, with virtual reality travel apps and VR tours capturing a good share of market revenue.

Of course, this should come as no surprise. Consumers increasingly turn to digital media when planning aspects of their lives, from recreational activities to retirement. Because VR has the power to engage travelers like no other technology can do, it is a natural step in the evolution of the travel industry. It is also likely to disrupt travel planning as we know it.

In this article, we will explore VR travel technology, and what it means for business in 2018.

Business Potential of VR Tourism

The VR travel experience offers business the power to engage and entice potential customers like no glossy travel brochure ever could. VR immerses the prospective travel customer into a 3D interactive experience, where they can explore their travel destination before ever buying a ticket. It’s one thing to show an undecided traveler a photo or video of Rome; letting them walk through a cobblestone village and explore the outdoor cafes is another thing entirely.

VR is, quite simply, the most effective promotional or advertising tool an agent can have at their disposal. Allowing customers to not only experience the beaches of Maui, but to have a 360-degree video tour of their hotel can convert prospects into bookings quicker than anything.

The ROI for VR technology in the travel industry is as no-brainer as you can get. Any business plan for a travel or tourism business that does not include VR is out of step with where the travel industry is headed.

VR Travel Apps and Videos

The inherent power of virtual reality technology to spark the imagination is capturing the attention of hotels, airlines, travel agencies, and even Third World governments. Let’s look at few and see how they are using VR to boost their travel and tourism industries.

1. Best Western Virtual Reality Experience (BWVRE)

The Best Western hotel chain believes that customers are more likely to book a hotel if they can visit it first. Using 360 virtual tours, hosted on the company’s YouTube channel, bestwesternTV, the hospitality chain invites customers to an interactive 3D tour of select hotels across the United States. Users can view guest rooms, the lobby, and amenities as if they were actually there. The BWVRE experience is rendered in high-definition 8K resolution, and videos can be distributed on any HTML5-compatible platform.

Best Western partnered with Google Street View to gather 17 million images of the company’s nearly 2,000 U.S. hotels.

2. The Sky’s the Limit with Qantas Airline VR

Qantas Airways partnered with Samsung to allow customers to explore hotspot destinations, and to even watch in-flight movies using the Gear VR headset. On the heels of the successful trial program, Qantas now offers the Qantas Virtual Reality app, designed to let users experience the beauty of Australia in VR. The app is available for iPhone, Android, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive devices, and offers an interactive 360° cinematic view of Australia’s most picturesque destinations.

In a sense, the Qantas approach is brilliant. What better way to sell future airline tickets than to introduce a captive audience (inflight passengers) to future destinations they might want to explore? As new destinations are added, passenger interest will likely soar.

3. Delaware

Even locales that may not be vacation hotspots are using VR to lure visitors. The American state of Delaware has launched a 360-degree VR video that allows viewers to canoe through Trap Pond State Park, to take a leisurely stroll along the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk, and to explore other attractions. The video, created by the state tourism office, is not the best example of what VR can offer the travel industry, but it is a great example of a local destination embracing VR to grow its own tourism industry.

4. Dulwich Picture Gallery

Built in 1811, England’s Dulwich Picture Gallery demonstrates how to use VR in both app form and online for giving virtual tours. The gallery uses the Google Arts & Culture platform for delivering the tour. Thanks to VR, potential customers can view a portion of the gallery’s huge collection before arriving, which increases ticket sales and customer satisfaction.

5. LittlStar

LlittlStar provides a distribution platforms for interactive content, and is used by Discovery VR, National Geographic, news outlets, and a large number of independent content creators.

The platform hosts interactive, high-quality 360-degree videos of Yellowstone National Park, Maui (Hawaii), picturesque Thailand, and offers a virtual guided tour of Paris and Eiffel Tower, to name a few.

LittlStar is an example of how VR tours can be distributed, and is an excellent platform for posting your VR travel videos.

6. YouVisit

Similar to LittlStar, YouVisit is an enormously popular platform for creation and distribution of 360-degree videos. The company targets high-end clients, and sells both 360 video production and hosting services. YouVisit is utilized by hotspots around the world to provide interactive videos to lure tourists to their location. Among the locations you can explore include Hollywood, Yosemite Falls National Park, Houston, and a tour of the Carnival Breeze cruise ship.

7. Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook has provided travel and tourism services for more than 170 years. The company has adopted VR technology and Samsung Gear VR to allow customers to “Try Before Your Fly” when visiting the agency’s stores.

And the result? The company has experienced a 190% increase in New York bookings since launching the program.

8. Ascape

Ascape is an online platform that offers apps for viewing hundreds of locations in 360 video. A partial list of available destinations includes a trip to the Grand Canyon, an African Safari, Christmas in New York City, and Snowboarding at Chamrousse, France. Users make in-app purchases of destinations at $0.99 each.

Ascape allows users to share their destination on FaceBook, and offers maps, history, and other information that may be useful to you on your trip.

9. India VR

The Indian Ministry of Tourism has partnered with Google Arts & Culture to produce a 360-degree video showing India’s most iconic landmarks. The video allows viewers to enjoy an interactive tour of the temples of Hamphi, Delhi, the Qutub Minar tower, built in 1193, along with a cross-section of India.

The project represents an excellent example of a not-so-hot destination that is using VR to heat up its tourism industry.

10. Thailand Too

In a similar vein, Thailand’s Tourism Authority has just recently launched a VR video of its own to attract tourists to the Asian country. The video puts viewers ringside at a Thai boxing ring, lets you view the making of silk textiles, and lets you explore a Thai rice farm.

With countries like India and Thailand creating their own virtual reality travel industry, the time has come for more developed nations to do the same.

These examples show the advertising potential of travel VR. Although VR is not yet — nor ever will be — as good as the real thing, it offers hotels, airlines, resorts, and travel companies a marketing tool no other medium can match.

Applications for VR Use in the Travel Industry

We have seen a few of the tools VR provides for the travel agent and the traveler, now let us look at a few more sectors that stand to benefit from VR travel technology.

Airlines & Rail Companies

Giving customers the opportunity to take a virtual tour of an aircraft cabin or railcar is a good way to secure fast bookings. Giving a guided tour of the terminal or station can also help customers become oriented with the check-in and booking process before they arrive. Familiarization with shops, lounges, information desks, and security procedures can also help reduce customer anxiety for those who have not traveled before.

Destinations

VR tours are an excellent way to lure travelers to your destination, where yours is a popular hotspot, or a hidden gem. Whether you choose to have a customized VR app developed, or to add a 360 video player to your website, the long term ROI can be substantial.

Car Rental Companies

The car rental business is an integral part of the travel industry, but customers are not always happy with the vehicle they are provided. Using VR to display the agency’s fleet can help customers make a confident selection before they arrive.

Conference Centers & Exhibition Centers

Not all travel is for pleasure. Business travel comprises a huge part of the travel market. VR tours are an excellent way to help visitors become familiar with where they need to go within a conference or exhibition center complex. Adding guided virtual tours on the facility website can save visitors time and frustration getting to their conference or exhibit.

Restaurants

Nearly every travel plan includes seeking out the local cuisine. Including tours of restaurants in VR travel guides can increase sales and help travelers have a more enjoyable experience while visiting your location.

Theaters, Sports Arenas, & Concert Halls

Any venu can benefit from providing customers with a virtual tour before arrival. Many customers travel great distances to see a performance or game, and exploring your facility before their trip can help them be better oriented when they arrive.

How AppReal-VR Can Help?

The VR tourism industry is a success story waiting to happen. The technology is here, the market is ready, all that is needed are the products that will bring the world to the traveler before the traveler sees the world. If providing the apps and platforms that will redefine the travel industry is your plan, we’d like you to meet your solution.

AppReal-VR is a leading provider of VR development services for customers across the globe. Our team of world-class developers, engineers, and content creators are experts in virtual reality technology.

Whether you’re looking to integrate VR into an existing advertising campaign, or you wish to create an application for promoting your travel destination, AppReal-VR has the experience to help you tap the lucrative VR travel market.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, today, for a no-cost consultation.

Virtual Reality is one if the hottest technology trends of 2018. Although gaming is probably the most popular commercial application of VR at the moment, VR has found fast and deep adoption in the fields of aviation and flight training, healthcare education, law enforcement and military training, and training tomorrow’s engineers.

Actually, to say VR is trending in education might be giving the technology too little credit. It is now entering the mass-adoption phase, where the terms “transformation” and even “disruption” describe its impact more accurately.

With online education and e-learning already moving into the mainstream, it seems logical that VR would be the next step in education advancement. And so it is.

Why VR in Education?

Industry experts forecast that the VR education market will will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 59% for the period of 2018 through 2022. Such market gain would be envious in any industry.

The reasons VR technology is being so well embraced by the educators and trainers are easy to see. Virtual training allows students to experience richer and more engaging learning experiences than can be provided through books, websites, or even videos. VR immerses the user in a 3D interactive experience that allows interactive learning in a controlled and safe environment, and does so at a fraction of the cost of real-life training. VR-based training can give soldiers the experience they need to operate anti-tank weapons without having to actually blow tanks up. It also saves in terms of human lives. Mistakes made in surgical training using VR simulations harm no one.

Application of Virtual Reality in Education

We touched upon a few examples of how virtual reality can be used to better facilitate education and training, now let us take a closer look and see some other applications for this exciting and powerful technology.

Firefighting

An American company, Flame Systems, is tapping the power of VR to make training firefighters safer and, in the long run, more cost effective. The VR simulator plunges students into a blazing kitchen, on scene at a propane tank leak, and at the sight of an aircraft fire. The computer-driven simulation even includes a mock firehose that exerts recoil pressure similar to the real thing.

Driving

When you think of VR training you might not think of training drivers, but thank goodness someone did.

VR Motion provides VR-based training simulators designed to give drivers experience before they ever hit the road. The company began with a truck driving simulator, and now offers VR simulators that train commercial truck drivers and equipment operators, law enforcement officers, and teen drivers.

Grade School Education

VR is poised to transform how grade school students learn about the world they live in. Schools in the state of Utah are using the digital teaching tool Nearpod to educate students in an immersive environment. Rather than reading about WWI, the VR educational tool puts them smack in the middle of a WWI trench, lets them pilot a WWI plane, and gives them a virtual tour of the White House.

It is inevitable that the virtual classroom will be the classroom of tomorrow, possibly disrupting the academic book industry.

Corporate Training

Companies across a wide range of industries are utilizing the power of VR to train employees more effectively and in more cost-effective ways than were previously possible. Better retention, lower cost, risk-reduction, and time savings are all factors the corporate world considers when making business decisions. Increasingly, corporate trainers realize that VR-based training makes good business sense.

VR Education Software and Hardware

The most successful educational experiences are ones that capture the attention of those being taught. By engaging with students on a visceral level, VR motivates them to learn, and improves content understanding and retention.

Thanks to a host of VR gear and software, educators and training institutions around the world can provide their students the benefits of virtual ed.

There are several VR headsets currently on the market, and even more coming on board as the technology matures and prices drop. Some headsets such as Oculus Rift integrate smartphones as their VR screens, while others such as the HTC Vive have their own embedded screen and are powered by a PC.

Google Cardboard is a low-cost/no-cost example that also uses a smartphone as a screen, and, as its name implies, is actually made of cardboard. Designed specifically for school applications, it is featured for Google Expeditions, which presents teacher-led field trips to various locations.

Alchemy VR is a software package that originally marketed itself as the world’s first virtual communications coach, purporting to boost employee presentation and engagement skills. The company has evolved into a provider of rich VR content that combines technical innovations with creative storytelling.

Full Sail University, Florida, is using VR not to educate students, but to provide a virtual campus environment where online students can feel more a part of the class. Virtual classrooms enable distance-learning students to enjoy the social aspects of college without having to attend campus. Tools enable students to collaborate and interact in ways that blur the lines between on-campus and online experiences.

How AppReal-VR Can Help

Successful educational VR products don’t just happen. They are the result of developing on the bleeding edge of VR technology, where true innovation happens.

That’s where we come in.

AppReal-VR is a software company that specializes in virtual reality development and augmented reality development. Our team includes experienced specialists in the fields of precision 3D modeling and photorealistic design, gyro and accelerometer integration (for motion processing and interpretation), image processing and speech recognition – the core competencies that will drive custom VR solutions for education, training, and industry.

We are leading developers of AR and VR solutions that are innovative, scalable, and marketable. Why not contact us today for a no-cost consultation?

Augmented Reality (AR) is slowly but surely entering the mainstream consciousness, with the record-breaking downloads of Pokemon GO and the widespread adoption of Snapchat acting as strong proofs of concept for even the most cynical of investors.

But there’s more to AR than entertainment. With its ever-improving software and hardware, it promises to have valuable real-world applications. And one industry we predict will benefit hugely from the introduction of AR technology is manufacturing.

AR for manufacturing has the potential to cut production downtime, identify issues, and streamline processes. Let’s take a quick look at how Augmented Reality applications in manufacturing will transform this industry.

What Are the Benefits of AR for Manufacturing?

There are a number of benefits to introducing Augmented Reality to the manufacturing industry, mainly centred around efficiency and productivity.

With AR, you can:

Work Faster, Work Smarter

By utilizing Augmented Reality apps and technology on the factory floor, engineers can work faster and smarter by viewing digital information overlaid onto the real-world environment. This makes them less reliant on interpreting schematics, instead receiving clear guidance and instructions via AR with regards to assembly.

Using Augmented Reality applications in manufacturing can also ensure maintenance and productivity can be carefully monitored and reviewed throughout the manufacturing process. Issues can be quickly diagnosed and resolved in real-time, without slowing production.

Access Real-time Data

One of the major impediments to the manufacturing process is the accessing of accurate and up-to-date data. Often, engineers need to stop what they’re working on and search for parts and scour a database for blueprints.

However, thanks to AR, this obstacle can be sidestepped as important information, including inventory, lead times, and specs, can be summoned in real-time without disrupting the flow of production.

Cut Production Downtime; Minimise Errors

Production downtime caused by human error or the breakdown of machinery can cost manufacturing companies dearly. Industrial Augmented Reality applications offer manufacturers a buffer to potential downtime scenarios by identifying errors and suggesting solutions faster and more efficiently.

For example, an AR app could be used to overlay a virtual representation of a design onto a real-life product, allowing engineers and designers to quickly assess the situation and pinpoint flaws, therefore preventing issues from arising and production slowing or stopping altogether.

Improve Training Effectiveness

Finally, Augmented Reality has the potential to transform the way training is conducted by manufacturing companies.

Like Virtual Reality training modules, AR applications can provide a level of immersion that contributes to more effective learning. And on-the-job training can be carried out with a greater degree of freedom, without the fear of making mistakes.

4 Augmented Reality Industrial Applications

The benefits of AR for manufacturing are clear, but what are the real-world applications? Well, here are four areas that will almost certainly be impacted by the introduction of Augmented Reality technology in the not-too-distant future.

1. Product Assembly

The clearest application of AR in manufacturing is in product assembly. The modern assembly line requires diligently piecing together hundreds, or even thousands, of components in the correct order and as fast as possible.

And typically, the instructions involved are made available as PDFs. These documents are long, detailed, and static, meaning they can very quickly become out of date.

To counter this, Augmented Reality applications projecting step-by-step instructions via an AR headset could allow the assembly line to operate quickly, work hands-free, and respond to issues with up-to-date information.

Here’s a great AR assembly line concept to give you an idea of its potential:

2. Equipment Maintenance

Of course, the assembly line is only one part of the manufacturing process. Augmented Reality can also be used to maintain and repair the equipment involved.

Instead of using a manual to pinpoint problems and implement solutions, AR can help improve maintenance by reducing the time spent on research, and helping those responsible visualise the issue and the fix.

By using a tablet device or an AR headset, engineers can quickly address maintenance problems and keep factory downtime to a minimum.

Here’s a great example of an AR maintenance app in action:

3. Instant Support

Another important and useful feature of AR for manufacturing is the ability to access instant expert support. Whereas previously support would require a physical presence on site to step in and explain a solution, Augmented Reality technology allows for a kind of telecommuting.

Technicians could therefore see what the manufacturer sees, all from the comfort of their own office, therefore cutting travel time and costs, while guiding the engineer on site to fix their problem.

What’s more, this type of support can help bridge an ever-widening skills gap in the manufacturing industry, allowing companies to supplement their employees’ knowledge with off site engineering expertise.

4. Quality Assurance

Finally, manufacturing quality assurance (QA) could be greatly improved with the introduction of Augmented Reality technology.

Whereas most existing QA processes ultimately rely on the human eye to spot problems, AR can be used to project digital overlays onto products and highlight inconsistencies. This can speed the process, allowing technicians to identify even the most minor of issues with a greater degree of accuracy.

AR for QA could also lead to real-time, simultaneous analysis of parts, further streamlining the manufacturing process.

Here’s an example of AR for QA in action:

In Summary

The manufacturing companies using Augmented Reality are already a step ahead of the competition. By implementing this technology across the areas we’ve discussed, they can reduce costs and increase production, all while minimizing mistakes and improving overall quality.

And investing in AR now just makes sense. A steady introduction of AR into existing manufacturing processes will allow for a smooth transition, instead of a panicked attempt to catch up with savvy competitors in the future.

Don’t delay - start thinking about AR for manufacturing today.

How Can AppReal Help?

Our talented team of AR app developers have their finger on the pulse of the latest AR manufacturing trends, and we’re ready to bring your Augmented Reality application to life.

With a high level of experience in custom app development across a wide range of industries, we can guide your idea from concept to completion. You’ll receive an AR app that will support your engineers and boost production.

Contact us today to speak with one of our AR app development experts.

The world of Virtual Reality is filled to the brim with creativity. From exciting apps to immersive games, the virtual worlds being built are as impressive as the hardware used to explore them.

The global virtual reality market is on track to generate $26.89 billion in revenue by 2022. Considering that 2016 earnings barely topped $2 billion, the growth trend is encouraging, to say the least. Also encouraging are the VR market trends that show how virtual reality technology is maturing. From VR video to treating dementia, it appears that mainstream adoption is on the way.

In 2017, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich took 250 people on a wingsuit flight over Moab, Utah. After landing on the desert floor, the flyers were quickly shuttled to Vietnam where they took in the sights of the Ban Gioc waterfall. From there, they once again took to the skies for an aerial inspection of a Nevada solar power plant. And after a successful inspection, they enjoyed courtside seats at an NCAA basketball game.

In 2015, the global B2B events industry was worth an incredible $29.3bn - and 2018 looks set to continue the trend of steady growth and increased investment for this vital and thriving market.

The automotive industry is home to some of the most impressive and exciting technological advancements of the last century. But with each new feature and enhancement, the owner’s manual grows in size and complexity. And if you’re not a car enthusiast, even the simplest of car maintenance tasks can be very overwhelming.