The Third Eye Industries Need: Augmented Reality Smart Glasses

Industries are changing and margins are squeezing. It’s inevitable for industrial enterprises to adapt and look for ways to cut down on their costs and improve the productivity of their workforce.

Incorporating deep tech into their daily operations is one of the ways industries are implementing to achieve low cost and higher productivity.

Lately, the application of Augmented Reality Smart Glasses is revolutionizing industries like manufacturing, automotive, telecom, etc. It integrates digital data into the physical world to give workers a more immersive experience for enhanced output. 

In this blog, we’ll delve into the technology itself, explore its benefits and industrial AR glasses applications.

An Immersive Experience Through Smart Glasses 

According to recent studies, the AR glasses market, valued at $15.4 billion in 2023, is expected to grow to $72 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 16.6%. Such a huge rise doesn’t surprise us given the range of benefits industries receive by using smart glasses. 

The use of augmented reality smart glasses is on the rise across industries. However, industries are not looking for only the immersive experience of virtual reality headsets. The driving factor is the ability to see both the blend of digital and physical worlds along with other work-enhancing benefits. AR Smart glasses are becoming the perfect solution for industries to augment their workforce. 

Industrial experts are witnessing how smart glasses help them get more productive by providing the workforce with all the information they need in front of them to accomplish tasks faster and more accurately. This also helps with training new employees, as they can be shown how processes like an assembly line work without having to alter the real environment or go through complicated printed work instructions. 

Benefits of Augmented Reality Smart Glasses

• They provide better visibility and safety
• They improve communication between workers
• They increase productivity with fewer errors

Below are some more benefits of AR smart glasses.

1. Hands-free operation 

One of the top benefits of AR Smart Glasses is their ability to let the workforce operate hands-free. It makes it possible for frontline workers to work in any different environmental conditions safely as they don’t have to spend time taking their hands off the machinery to look at a manual or consult other people for help.  Experience hands-free work with Industrial Augmented Reality Glasses, perfect for repair & maintenance, frontline training, or remote inspections.

With the help of Augmented Reality smart glasses, workers can easily access information about how to perform tasks and even how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise in real-time. 

Enterprises like DHL resort to AR powered wearables to address surging demands by drastically improving worker efficiency and operational performance during the pandemic.

Plutomen Workflow is an assisted reality -based work instructions software that can help workers by providing smart manuals for hands-free operations. It includes work instructions with step-by-step visuals, which help workers to get jobs done quickly and efficiently. It can be used in cases like- 

When the frontline worker has no idea how to solve a problem, the app will provide self-guided instructions on how to do it. 

If the frontline worker wants to know more about equipment or machinery, they can see it through the app. 

If there are any technical difficulties with the product or service, they can get support through this app. 

2. Voice command 

Voice command-enabled AR smart glasses have been introduced to the workforce in automotive, manufacturing, and telecom industries. In these industries, workers must wear heavy protective equipment that can cause injury. Voice commands lower the risk of injury and make it easier for workers to communicate with other workers and send commands to the AR glasses.  

Voice command also allows workers to work more efficiently because they do not have to constantly look at their screens or any other devices to type commands. This makes it easier for workers who work in hazardous environments where they might get injured if they look elsewhere too often.  

Workers can use the voice commands on AR smart glasses in various ways. For example, they can guide a worker through a step-by-step process, or they could use it to switch visuals while working on machinery.

The benefits of voice command AR intelligent glasses are endless, and they will only get better over time. 

• The field worker doesn’t have to juggle between an AR device and equipment
• No hindrance in the ongoing task
• Giving voice command is convenient
• It promotes safety by allowing the worker to focus on the surrounding 

AR Smart Glass Software 

AR smart glasses have the potential to transform the way we interact with our surroundings. But, without implementing customized AR software, it would be difficult for AR glasses to do anything more than just display information on a screen. The software, which is usually an app, should be designed to provide work customized and seamless experience to the frontline workers.   

There are many AR smart glass software currently available in the market. Some of these can be used for gaming, while others can be used for operations in industries such as manufacturing and automotive. For example, in manufacturing, software can be used to show how to use specific equipment or how to repair a particular component. With the Augmented Reality smart glasses, frontline teams can get interactive work instructions, SOPs, guides, etc., in a few clicks. They can also connect with experts without any hindrance in their ongoing task. 

The current usage of AR smart glasses in industries like manufacturing is a testament of Gartner prediction on smart glasses “have the most impact on the heavy industry, such as manufacturing.”

The use of software on AR smart glasses is increasing exponentially as technology is evolving. As with any other technological innovation, AR glasses will only reach their full potential when they are paired with software that is designed specifically for them.  And that is not a challenge as, in a survey, 40% of consumers say that they would pay more for customized AR solutions. Currently, many industrial enterprises are already using AR smart glass software to optimize glasses as per their requirements.

Check out more details around the different wearables powered by AR here. 

Let’s have a look at the Most Prominent Features of Industrial AR Glasses Software. 

Features of Modern Augmented Reality Smart Glasses

AR smart devices are packed with advanced features that enhance productivity, improve safety, and offer immersive experiences. Here are some key features of modern AR smart glasses:

1. Display Technology:

Birdbath Optics: Modern AR glasses use birdbath optics, which project images downward and reflect them close to the wearer’s eyes. This setup creates a rich, full HD projection that appears several feet in front of you, enhancing the visual experience by making it seem like the content is floating in space.

Micro OLED Displays: These displays offer high contrast and vibrant colors, contributing to a sharp and immersive visual experience. Micro OLED screens are used in many AR glasses to ensure that the images are clear and bright, even in various lighting conditions.

Resolution and Field of View: Look for at least 1080p resolution to ensure text and images are crisp. A field of view (FOV) of at least 45 degrees is ideal for a more immersive experience. A wider FOV allows more of the augmented content to be visible at once.

2. Advanced Sensors

Augmented reality (AR) smart glasses include sensors such as accelerometers, and gyroscopes. These sensors play a crucial role in delivering a seamless and immersive AR experience. 

Combining these signals facilitates error correction and yields accurate measurements to track the user’s head position and movement in real-time. Cameras installed on the smart glasses scan the user’s surroundings and provide a live video feed of the real world.

3. Integrated two-way communication 

With the use of integrated two-way voice and video communication, field service technicians can better understand the problem they are trying to solve. It also helps them identify potential risks and come up with solutions faster.  

It is not just about being able to see the customer’s equipment while they are on site. Field service technicians can speak with engineers or other subject-matter experts using AR glasses while showing them the customer’s equipment. This will help them identify the problem faster and fix it more quickly, which will increase customer satisfaction.  

AR glasses are not only to solve customer issues, but they are also being used to solve internal machinery issues as well. The expert sitting at one factory can guide a technician working in the other factory to resolve the issue.  

The remote assistance and collaboration platform helps enterprises increase the productivity of the frontline teams and supports them in resolving complex problems. AR solutions like Plutomen Connect enable frontline workers to connect remotely via video and voice with customers and experts. This proactive approach helps fill the communication gap between remote workers and reduces error and more efficiency. 

4. Comfort and Fit

Adjustability: Comfort is crucial for extended use. Many AR glasses offer adjustable features such as arm height, nose bridges, and sometimes even diopter tuning for those with vision impairments. These adjustments help ensure a good fit and reduce blur.

Weight and Design: Lightweight designs and ergonomic shapes contribute to comfort. Many modern AR glasses are designed to be less bulky and more stylish compared to early models like Google Glass. This makes them suitable for everyday use without causing discomfort.

5. Direct Connections

Some Industrial AR glasses can be directly connected to devices via USB-C or other ports. This allows the glasses to display content from phones, tablets, or laptops, providing a seamless experience for consuming media or working on virtual desktops.

The future of AR for smart glasses 

The future of AR for smart glasses looks promising because it offers a new way for people to interact with their surroundings. Smart glasses have the potential to make AR mainstream. It has been used in many different industries and has the potential to be penetrated further. Such an implementation would ultimately increase quality control, facilitate workflow standardization, provide faster and more reliable solutions, save money on management and training, to name a few. 

AR smart glasses come packed with numerous high-tech features. Now, it would be interesting to see how software evolves to unlock the full potential of AR smart glasses. In the future, AR software will open new doors of possibilities.  

Conclusion

To remain competitive, companies should stay updated on trends and explore ways to introduce or further integrate AR smart glasses into their operations.

Plutomen’s connected worker platform offers smartglass assistance by empowering workers with on-the-job knowledge transfer, close skillgap, and drive continuous improvement.

It helps you communicate with different departments, collaborate with experts and customers for troubleshooting and MRO, and conclude faster with a high first-time fix rate. Plutomen offers a variety of solutions – collaborate remotely with Connect, create digitized workflows with Workflow, and provide next-gen training with Assist.