Dhaval Sarvaiya, Author at ReadWrite https://readwrite.com/author/dhaval-sarvaiya/ IoT and Technology News Fri, 19 Nov 2021 19:24:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://readwrite.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-rw-32x32.jpg Dhaval Sarvaiya, Author at ReadWrite https://readwrite.com/author/dhaval-sarvaiya/ 32 32 Development of a Smart Home Using AI and IoT Technologies https://readwrite.com/smart-home-using-ai-and-iot-technologies/ Sun, 21 Nov 2021 15:01:00 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=192339 Smart Home Using AI and IoT

Personalization and automation remain the main directions for improving the quality of the user experience. They also help make the […]

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Smart Home Using AI and IoT

Personalization and automation remain the main directions for improving the quality of the user experience. They also help make the lives of millions of people safer, more convenient, and more comfortable.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have become the main tools in recent years. It is with their help that a symbiosis of functional automation and well-tuned personalization is created. How exactly technologies affect the development of a smart home, we will analyze in the article.

What is AI?

Britannica AI is interpreted as the ability of a computer/robot to perform tasks set by a person.

The use of artificial intelligence in everyday life allows technology to reproduce some of the user’s tasks at an automatic level. Ability is determined by a program that is pre-programmed with a set of machine learning or deep learning algorithms.

AI works 24 hours a day, seven days a week; it does not need rest. It allows devices to perform various functions, make rational decisions, and avoid critical errors.

What is IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the ability of devices to transmit data to each other over the Internet. Both household appliances and industrial installations can have this property. In addition, the technology allows devices to assess the situation and draw conclusions without human consent.

Integration of assistants

When technologies are introduced into the “Smart Home” system, all the necessary information from the Internet of Things goes to the artificial intelligence base, which already carries out a prepared algorithm of actions.

AI transforms the received data into commands, which, subsequently, are formed into a model of behavior that fully meets human needs. This is due to the ability of technology to analyze the results obtained after contact with a person and predict further options for the development of events.

Assistant integration is ubiquitous, and even giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon adopt them for automation. With their help, users can issue commands to their devices from a distance and ensure that everything will be done without errors.

Similar actions are carried out from applications. It should be convenient and usable and not contain grammatical errors. If you want to develop one of these solutions, you must approach the question as cleverly as possible. Every detail is essential, from the interface to typos. By the way, tools like Fresh Essays, Grammarly, etc., will help to avoid this.

Digital assistants

Today, there are AI and IoT-based automated security systems and devices with voice control from a distance. For example, millions of people use Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant in their daily lives. Through advances in technology, researchers are expanding voice recognition capabilities, which increases the functionality and value of the technology.

Today, users can control devices hands-free, as well as change programs on TV using Bluetooth speakers. But so far the system needs to be improved, since, from the safety side, the results are not satisfactory. Fraudsters have learned how to hack voice-controlled devices.

Benefits of AI and IoT

The main advantages of AI and IoT in the Smart Home system:

  • the user can turn off / turn on all devices in the house connected to the AI, even being in another country in the world;
  • all data on the work of smart technology goes to the application on the smartphone, which guarantees complete control over them;
  • if desired, after the user leaves the home, all smart devices will be automatically turned off.

Also, if a person returns home from work, he can turn on the heating system, kettle, or another device to return to an already warm home and, for example, immediately brew tea for himself.

Examples of automated devices

Virtual assistants can find information on the Internet, call specific subscribers and even synchronize with other devices only thanks to voice control. Technologies can be presented in the form of applications installed on a smartphone or embedded in a device using the software.

Let’s take a look at several devices that can be used in the “Smart Home” system, equipped with AI and IoT technologies, their capabilities, and functions.

Washing machines

The use of technologies in the washing machine allows them to adjust the amount of used washing powder or other detergents, set the operating mode, and turn on the device at a particular time. Also, the regulation process can be programmed based on a load of laundry in the drum and the type of fabric.

The system will automatically notify you when the detergent has run out and will send an appropriate notification. Thanks to this, you can save on washing and electricity, while the machine itself will increase/decrease the operating power depending on the needs.

Machine learning technology allows you to study in detail a person’s daily routine, analyze it, and adjust. For example, if a person goes to the gym every three days and marks it on the calendar, the machine will automatically turn on the desired mode for washing after the user puts dirty clothes in it.

The device will automatically determine the weight of the laundry and select the optimal amount of water for it, which will also save money.

Smart speakers

Smart speakers were one of the earliest devices to incorporate AI and IoT technologies. Many models are equipped with voice recognition software. They can also be controlled using a mobile app. Voice commands create playlists and grocery lists, trigger notifications and reminders, and search the web.

Refrigerators

Refrigeration devices using artificial intelligence can automatically diagnose the system, which will prevent premature failure of parts and save money. In addition, the device itself will regulate the consumption of electricity and power depending on the load on the shelves.

Deep learning allows you to control the number of products and identify them. So, the application will display the amount of food remaining, even if the user is at work, which will allow replenishing stocks in a timely manner. Then, based on the analysis, AI will suggest specific recipes, focusing on various products.

The user can remotely get a snapshot of the refrigerator shelves, make a list of products and control the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer chambers.

When a person selects a recipe from the list, the refrigerator can signal an additionally synchronized oven, which will start the heating process at the right time.

Cleaning robots

Thousands of people suffer from dust allergies worldwide, and millions complain about the constant appearance of dust in their homes, which interferes with their comfortable life. But, unfortunately, few people will clean it after a hard day’s work, even from the floor covering, and many cannot afford cleaning services. The robot cleaner allows you to solve the problem with dust and dirt, even in hard-to-reach places.

The main unresolved problem of the technology is the lack of precise synchronization with the home ecosystem, which reduces its effectiveness. But researchers continue to solve it, so universal cleaning robots should appear that can cope with any obstacles in the form of furniture and equipment in the near future.

Door lock system

Thanks to the smart door lock, the user can control whether the door is closed and send a signal about the result to his family members. Also included is the function of receiving a notification when other people open doors, which increases the level of security.

Baby watching

Even if the mother cooks lunch in the kitchen, and the child remains in the nursery, she can always control him using a monitoring system – a baby monitor. Thanks to sound and video recording, the user can always track any movements of the baby on the screen. In addition, most models support Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G to ensure smooth signal transmission.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) can make the Smart Home system more useful for humans and minimize their contact with devices. And if earlier technologies were a luxury item, today, a much more significant percentage of the population can afford them.

They will help make everyday life convenient not only for those who understand technology; any user will be able to intuitively figure out how to set up devices and automate their work processes.

Everyone can appreciate the increased level of security, reduced energy costs, complete automation, and autonomy of devices. AI and IoT are improving, and over time their capabilities in the “Smart Home” system will become limitless.

Image Credit: Vlada Karpovich; Pexels; Thank you!

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Chatbots for Travel and Tourism: Travel Experience Made Better https://readwrite.com/chatbots-for-travel-and-tourism-travel-experience-made-better/ Thu, 03 Dec 2020 16:01:21 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=179318 chatbots for travel

A decade ago, if you had fancied a vacation to the Bahamas, it will take at least or half of […]

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chatbots for travel

A decade ago, if you had fancied a vacation to the Bahamas, it will take at least or half of it to plan and get the itinerary in place. Booking flight tickets required visiting multiple travel agents in person, comparing costs, and then fixing an agreement with the best of the lot. Then there was planning the itinerary, choosing the place of stay, mode of commute — all of which is not for those who take traveling lightly. Here are chatbots for travel and tourism — travel experience made better.

If you are someone like me, packing the rucksack, wait until a few hours before the flight takes off. Meticulous travel planning is not my cup of tea. Luckily for folks like me, chatbots are taking over travel planning. Along with it, they are also reforming travel and hospitality as we know it for good. 

Here are some real-world applications that are out there right now. The next time you even think of planning a vacation, you might stumble upon them or their likes. 

Real-world chatbot applications in travel and tourism

What can chatbots possibly do in travel planning? 

Aren’t they supposed to be super-complicated software systems that only large enterprises use? 

Well, this is one of the myths that has shrouded chatbots as a mystery technology. The fact is, chatbots are logic-based programs that can be used even for basic functionalities. That makes them a perfect fit for the travel and tourism industry, where the scale of low-priority and high-volume* transactions is high. 

*Low-priority — frequently asked questions that can be easily addressed by a system without the intervention of a human agent. 

High-volume — hundreds, thousands, or even more simultaneous real-time transactions. 

1. Integrating instant messengers with chatbots

Instant messengers have literally replaced emails and text messages for quick messaging. They are fast, convenient, and save a lot of time. Imagine the convenience they can introduce to the travel and tourism industry

Let’s take that convenience one step ahead. What if chatbots can converse through instant messengers. As you are reading this piece, there could be countless conversations happening on instant messengers that are being led by chatbots. In fact, WhatsApp, which has become the de-facto medium for instant messaging, offers chatbot integration. Other messengers like Facebook are also popularly used by travelers. 

Business owners like tour operators, hotel property owners, travel aggregators, etc., can use chatbots to automate conversations with customers. The IM-chatbot integration makes it possible for travel businesses to have an always-available virtual assistant who can respond to guests through instant messages. In fact, airlines are already using IMs to send boarding passes and flight details to travelers.

Integrating instant messengers with chatbots

Source: Airline Staff Rates

What benefits do integrating a chatbot with an instant messenger offer?

  • It spares the business owner from having to initiate basic conversations.
  • Standard or canned responses to frequent queries can be handled by the chatbot.
  • The user gets a trail of information in an instant messaging app that they use the most.

2. Make ticket bookings based on real-time fare comparisons

Like I mentioned earlier, flight ticket bookings have taken the online route. Millennial customers have, in fact, moved to the mobile route where travel aggregator apps and flight booking apps make things easier than ever before. 

However, there is one challenge that is still troubling travelers. Finding the best flight tickets. If you have tried booking a flight ticket before, you know how the ticket cost fluctuates with a mind of their own. It is complicated even for a net-savvy person to stay track of it. Also, it is almost impossible to comb through all airline websites to find the best fare. 

Can chatbots help here? Of course, they can. Like how they facilitate booking management for travel business owners, chatbots can help travelers find the best flight tickets as well. 

A chatbot can help determine how much each airline is charging for a flight cost from New Zealand to Copa on a given day. The search gives class-wise details that make it easy to book or look for alternative options instantly.

Skyscanner, a popular website for finding flight ticket prices, has already surpassed one million chatbot interactions (eConsultancy Interview with Filip Filipov, Skyscanner). If the user is not satisfied with the ongoing price, they can instruct the chatbot to set a price alert. The chatbot will notify the user when there is a price change. This is akin to having a personal travel agent who finds the best flight tickets at the nick of the time.

Make ticket bookings based on real-time fare comparisons

Image Credit: Chatbots Life

3. Facilitate web check-ins 

Chatbots can help travelers initiate web check-ins for flights or hotels through a chatbot for social media, instant messenger, or a website. Sounds too futuristic? Well, the truth is most have already used the airline website for web check-ins. A chatbot can make the chore a tidbit easier by enabling you to do it from your mobile phone

chatbot Facilitate web check-ins

Image Credit: Engati

This has several benefits to it:

  • You can check-in if you are stuck in traffic en route to the airport.
  • If you don’t have access to a computer
  • Or make use of premium member privileges that are available only on mobile.

4. Sketch a detailed travel itinerary

Until recently, there were two types of travel: business and leisure. But, millennials who value experiences more than material possessions are using their business travels for leisure as well. This has led to the formation of a new travel type: Bleisure. 

Bleisure is travel where business matters and leisure activities are taken care of in the same trip. According to Forbes, Bleisure trips are growing by 20% since 2016. While leisure sounds great as a concept, it poses unique challenges for the traveler. To begin with, finding nearby attractions for exploration. 

Of course, there are travel websites, blogs, and magazines that describe at length where to go, when, and how. However, they are usually written from a leisure travel perspective and do not consider leisure.

For millennials who want to make the best use of the opportunity, a chatbot based recommender system can help. The chatbot, which was probably used to book the flight ticket, can suggest nearby attractions. The traveler can plan the itinerary and also avail of deals for hotel bookings. In short, it is a win-win situation for all the parties involved. 

chatbot Sketch a detailed travel itinerary

Source: Chatbots Life

5. Customer Support— 24/7 

Chatbots do not need recesses, holidays, or weekends off. They are always available. You can make them work on your website, mobile app, or even integrate them with the social handles of your business. That makes them perfect for donning the hat of customer support professionals

In their customer service role, chatbots can offer:

  • Real-time flight status updates
  • Request for change in hotel arrival times
  • Cab or hotel service requests
  • Book restaurant tables

If you think about it, travel is a global phenomenon. Travelers are not always from the same time zone or destination. This can cause serious staffing issues in the support department of a travel business. A chatbot can fill the void by fending basic queries that come in large volumes from customers. 

What’s more fascinating is that a single chatbot can handle dozens or more queries at the same time from multiple customers. Compared to that, a single customer service rep can handle only one customer at a time. That is a huge leap in productivity that we are looking at. 

chatbot for Customer Support— 24/7

Source: Chatfuel

Final thoughts: 

Travel is a personal and intimate experience. For the experience-driven millennial generation, it is one of the priorities in life. Like everything else, travel businesses must also take efforts to improve the customer experience with the aid of technology. Chatbots provide just the means for that. 

They enable travelers to make quick travel plans, sketch out a travel itinerary, avail the best deals on hotel bookings, and much more. They provide the convenience of on-the-go lifestyle arrangements that mobile has made us accustomed to.

Still more, chatbots will enable travel business owners to maximize their productivity without shooting their own foot with hefty costs. 

Be it for travelers or travel businesses; chatbots prove to be worthy virtual companions.

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Trends that will Characterize the eCommerce Industry in 2020 and Beyond https://readwrite.com/trends-that-will-characterize-the-ecommerce-industry-in-2020-and-beyond/ Tue, 31 Mar 2020 16:00:36 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=167187 ecommerce in 2020

In 1994, when Amazon was launched, its first package consisting of a Physics book was sent via post. Fast forward […]

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ecommerce in 2020

In 1994, when Amazon was launched, its first package consisting of a Physics book was sent via post. Fast forward to 2020; today, drones are being deployed to deliver packages at customer doorsteps.

Folks! The utopian future that was depicted in The Jetson’s Family cartoon is almost upon us. eCommerce is the key driver of the future. Every year, new trends emerge in the eCommerce space at such a giddying space that it is natural to feel missed out.

Even in 2020, we expect the global eCommerce space to evolve in several aspects. This blog aims to capture such trends that will shape the eCommerce space in 2020.

What are those trends? Read further.

Developments in on-demand deliveries.

In 2019, eCommerce deliveries became time-sensitive. Numerous studies have proven that customers are willing to shell out extra bucks for same-day delivery or scheduled deliveries. PwC’s Global Consumer Insights Survey 2018 found that over 40% of online shoppers said they would pay an additional charge for same-day delivery.

From an eCommerce business perspective, same day deliveries can result in higher sales volumes. Another allied benefit is that there will be a reduction in the need for warehouse space. Thanks to the fast-paced deliveries made possible by last-mile deliveries, online stores will need only smaller distribution centers to store stocks.

Now, how will the delivery scene change in 2020? Amazon’s Prime Air hints at a future when most deliveries could be made by drones. In fact, in an interview with CBS News, given in 2013, Jeff Bezos has hinted at the future when Amazon will deliver packages via drones. He claims that more than 86% of Amazon packages weigh less than 5 pounds. Read this fact, along with customers are willing to pay for immediate/same-day delivery, in 2020, we can expect to see more drones flying to deliver packages.

eCommerce trends in 2020

Source: Theverge

Data privacy will take center stage.

Businesses today have endless touchpoints from where they can collect and analyze user data. Web browsing cookies, mobile app usage, website behavior heatmaps, to name a few. However, reckless data collection of users could spell doom for the business. eCommerce retailers have been the infamous lot for sending too many retargeting ads and emails that infiltrate user’s data privacy.

Also, there have been umpteen cases where brands have been found to be lethargic in protecting user data. The security breaches of British Airways, Equifax, Exactis, Cathay Pacific are a few notable examples. Accordingexciting to PWC’s 2018 Digital Trust Insights, “although companies encourage consumers to entrust them with their data, only 53% include proactive management of cyber and privacy risks in their digital transformation plans.”

In 2020 and years to follow, such data privacy hindering activities will become restricted. GDPR was just a beginning to such data collection controls that hamper user’s data privacy. As data privacy takes center stage, businesses will be forced to implement new data protection measures or revamp their existing processes.

Voice shopping to gallop in volumes.

Amazon’s Echo has 10% penetration of US homes, Google’s Home, 4%, and Microsoft’s Cortana, 2% — this is the estimated market penetration of virtual assistants in US homes. Do you know what is the most obvious feature of all these virtual assistants?

Voice search.

Right from checking how the day’s weather is going to pan out for the day to streaming on-demand music, there is so much that these virtual assistants can go. Furthermore, they have become catalysts for eCommerce as well. The talking shop – the rise of voice commerce report by OC&C Strategy Consultants have found that by 2022, voice shopping is expected to jump to $40 billion in the US and by $5 Billion in the UK.

eCommerce trends Voice Shopping

Source:voicebot.ai

Modern eCommerce retailers, if they wish to stay relevant in a business landscape led by voice search, will be forced to adapt their shopping channels to voice shopping. And 2020 will see more developments in that direction.

Immersive experiences will become differentiators.

One thing that makes eCommerce enticing for online shoppers is the experience of viewing, comparing, and making their final pick from an almost endless list of options. Until now, that experience was limited to watching 2D images of products from multiple angles with zoom-in and zoom-out feature.

Today’s customers mostly made up of millennial age groups, want immersive shopping experiences packaged within their few-inch screen mobile screens.

Luckily for eCommerce retailers, several new technologies can dish out immersive experiences that captivate users — augmented reality being one among the top of them. Augmented reality is one of the mixed reality technologies that embed digital snippets of data atop physical objects or surfaces.

In eCommerce, augmented reality has several applications, including real-time product try-ons in actual physical surroundings. Virtual mirrors for fashion shopping to cite an example. Another real-world example if that of IKEA’s mobile app. It allows users to place their choice of furniture items in actual physical surroundings.

The benefit of AR in eCommerce is twofold — first, it makes shopping enticing. Secondly, it helps reduce the volume of returns substantially. ECommerce brands that take heed in using immersive technologies will be able to differentiate themselves from the rest of the fold.

Small businesses to become a dominant force.

It is no secret that is the big enterprises that always hog the limelight with their dizzying stock prices and globe-spanning sales territories. But, there is another side to the story. Small businesses, typically floated by solopreneurs or by a small team of ambitious individuals, have been rising in number and volumes in recent years. They have fewer than 500 employees and yet have managed to penetrate markets that were earlier reserved for the bigwigs.

According to the US Small Business Administration, there are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States, employing 47.8 percent of US workers. Also, studies byClutch.co-found that nearly Two-Thirds of Small Businesses Rely on Websites to Connect with Customers. At the beginning of 2018, almost two-thirds (64%) of small businesses have a website.

In other words, it is safe, to sum up, that small businesses are a dominant force that will gather momentum in 2020 and beyond. In addition to generating employment, they will also leverage the power of eCommerce to carve a niche for themselves in a global market.

Along with mobile shopping, digital wallets would also become mainstream.

It is no secret that mobile commerce has grown with leaps and bounds in recent years. However, there has been one catalyst feature that can be cited as the prime reason for this rapid growth of mobile commerce. It is a mobile payment facility like digital wallets. The mobile payment industry is projected to reach $4,574 billion by 2023.

ecommerce-trends-mobile-payment

source: growcode

There are several benefits that mobile payments and mobile wallets offer customers that make them enticing for customers.

  • The convenience of not carrying a wallet or plastic card
  • Quick online ordering without leaving the mobile app screen
  • Loyalty points and rewards on transactions
  • The facility of sending/receiving the money to contacts and most frequently used outlets

More inclination toward sustainable practices.

Greta Thunberg’s flaring speech on climate change sends ripples around the world. It was heard by businesses as well. After all, they are the biggest consumers of natural resources. Also, almost 90% of eCommerce orders being shipped in corrugated boxes, which mounts huge pressure on the rainforests.

With rising awareness about climate change, shoppers are inclining towards brands that have adopted eco-friendly practices. Top among them is eco-friendly packing. According to Nielsen, 73% of consumers say they would definitely change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact.

Along with eco-friendly packing, consumers are also becoming increasingly conscious about the products they use and their impact on the environment. The same Neilsen study quoted above mentions that there has been a tremendous increase in consumers who are willing to pay a premium price for organic products.

Source: nielsen

Better return policies in the cards.

The pleasure of online shopping also has a peril to it. Customers are wary of the quality, the fit, and the rightness of their choices. As a result, returns skyrocketed, hindering the profitability of online stores. Statista (gated) found that in 2018, U.S. return delivery costs were estimated to be 381 billion U.S. dollars. This figure has been steadily increasing and is predicted to reach 550 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.

Unfortunately, free shipping, as well as free returns, are something that customers want as default offerings from any online store. In the past, and even today, this has put online stores in a spot to figure out innovative ways to meet customer expectations.

There are two brands that have turned this challenge into their competitive advantage. The first is Amazon Go, which allows customers to pick up products, pay for it through their Amazon Pay app without having to wait for a second at the cash counter — because there isn’t any. Although Amazon Go is limited to groceries, we can envision a future when this lightning fast way of shopping will become mainstream.

After Amazon, it is Warby Parker that seems to have hit the sweet spot in impressing customers. Their Home Try-On facility allows users to select five frames to test out for five days — and all the five frames will be shipped to customers for free.

ecommerce customer policy

Source:bespokeuni

What’s in store for eCommerce in 2020

In the 1990s, when Amazon was in its initial stages,eCommerce development was hardly heard of. It was not even a part of the software development vocabulary. Today, it is a Trillion dollar industry that is enabling individuals to small teams to build their own online stores rich with experiences aimed to win customers.

2020 is going to be yet another year when online retailers will experiment with new strategies and tactics to woo customers and to retain them. There are solid trends that signal these oncoming strategies and tactics. From drone deliveries to better return policies and everything in between, there is so much to look forward to.

Data privacy, which was often overlooked in the previous years, will become a serious priority for all. Similarly, small businesses will also rise to the occasion to give solid competition for established players.

All said it is safe to assume that 2020 is going to be an interesting year for eCommerce retailers and consumers.

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Augmented Reality: Transforming Training with Immersive Experiences https://readwrite.com/augmented-reality-transforming-training-with-immersive-experiences/ Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:00:51 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=155869

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is all praise for augmented reality. When quizzed about his fascination for AR, during a company’s […]

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Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is all praise for augmented reality. When quizzed about his fascination for AR, during a company’s earnings call meeting, he answered, “I see apps that make me want to go to K-12 again and repeat my schooling because it changes the game in the classroom.” 

Augmented reality is changing the game, not just in classrooms, but in the training industry as a whole.

Think about it. AR apps deliver real-time information fixated on physical objects that simplifies the process of information consumption. They are a perfect choice for digital transformation in the training space where information overload is a routine affair.

How exactly will Augmented Reality find its way into training sessions? Take, for instance, a high-school classroom where science topics are usually taught with static or printed images. With augmented reality, any student can point a screen at a physical object or even an AR marker to view graphically animated content. 

So, all the static images of the human digestive system, the planetary system, or even an exploding volcano can now,  literally appear as if you are right by the action of the volcano — seen up close and experienced in vivid detail. The experience does not end with that. Augmented reality users can interact with the objects on the screen. They can tap on any data snippet to view information for further reading or exploration. 

augmented reality in classroom training

But, as I said earlier, training goes beyond the classroom. Even the corporate sector, where employees in manufacturing and industrial settings where training is critical, also stand to benefit from augmented reality. 

Augmented reality is spreading its influence across many industries where training makes a difference between life and death.

Immersive mixed reality training in manufacturing scenarios.

Imagine the factory floor of a car manufacturer. Every employee on the floor is expected to bring together several parts of the car, weld them together flawlessly so that the vehicle takes physical shape. Now, what if one of them makes a difference?

A misplaced weld (a fusing or solder-type bond), the wrong screw in your system; even millimeters of a difference in the welding techniques can ruin the entire cast of a car. 

Until augmented reality came around, auto manufacturers inevitable had to incur training expenses that resulted in wastage of physical resources. With AR, such errors are reduced to a bare minimum. 

At the BMW Group Production Academy, BMW is training managers, production planners, process leaders, and quality specialists with the help of AR goggles. The goggles provide participants with visualizations of engine assembly with which they can interact. This immersive form of training reduces error instances. As a bonus, it also helps in gathering quick feedback from trainers which trainees can incorporate into their work.

BMW leveraging augmented reality applications.
BMW leveraging augmented reality applications.

Integrating experiential learning for plant personnel.

If BMW is bringing AR to engine assembly, Honeywell has already launched a solution in collaboration with Microsoft. Titled ‘The Honeywell Connected Plant Skills Insight Immersive Competency,’ the program uses a combination of augmented reality and virtual reality to create a mixed reality experience for users. 

Employees are given a Windows Mixed Reality with Microsoft’s HoloLens, which simulates several activities that are usually conducted in a plant environment.

Honeywell Simulating job experience with augmented reality.
Honeywell Simulating job experience with augmented reality.

This immersive training gives employees an on-hand learning experience which minimizes errors and maximizes productivity. Honeywell is hoping to maximize skill retention to 100% and reduce training time by 60% with this Augmented reality infusion. 

Well, if you thought heavy-duty industries like manufacturing are the only ones that have enormous possibilities for augmented reality think again. 

Augmented Reality going skin deep in medical training.

Mixed reality has found inroads into what can be called the most sensitive practices of all times – the healthcare system. In case you didn’t know, the future generation of doctors may be trained more with augmented reality visuals and tools than with real dissection of human bodies. And it seems legit. 

In a way, such training practices will help scale medical training to a large number of students. Similarly, the detailing with which training is provided will also extend the quality of medical service to a whole new level. 

If you think all these are baseless arguments, take the case of AccuVein. AccuVein is an Augmented Reality based medical imaging application that helps healthcare providers get a skin-deep view of their patient’s veins. Well, without any invasive procedures like surgery or scanning. AccuVein works by projecting a device over the user’s arms. The healthcare provider will be able to see the veins in full clarity through the screen.

Augmented Reality going skin deep in medical training.
Augmented Reality going skin deep in medical training.

Augmented reality does extensive job training of professionals in many diverse fields, such as these. It is only natural that AR will be used for educating the future generation as well. Schools and educational institutions around the world who are have introduced augmented reality within classrooms

The Chandler Traditional Academy uses an augmented reality application to train students on how to work with the human heart. Fondly called the zSpace technology, the application is a hit amidst students who are baffled by its three-dimensional experience.

Students using augmented reality to work with human heart.
Students using augmented reality to work with the human heart.

The experience allows them to use a stylus as a joystick to explore the content in detail. It goes without saying that such learning can be a great advantage to most fields requiring extensive training. These learning experiences are received at an early age. The material, training, and practice are repeated often enough so that it’s less likely to be forgotten. 

Why training needs immersive experiences.

Training is the learning of new skills. Until recently, learning was accomplished through textual content and visual elements like static images. Learning done in this manner has certain limitations, which made the learning experience restricted. 

With the innovations and changing trends in augmented reality, this interactive technology brings users a refreshing way of consuming content that immerses users into the environment. It levels ups the learning experience, which ultimately results in higher skills acquisition. In fact, for the corporate sector, it will also benefit in retaining trained talent. 

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