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Improving Process Understanding through Three-Dimensional Environments with Virtual and Augmented Reality

Imagine immersing yourself in an environment where data comes to life, where every chart and every figure becomes a tangible experience. In a constantly evolving world, companies face the challenge of understanding and optimizing complex processes in an overwhelming sea of information. But what if you could “see” that data in three dimensions, touch it, and manipulate it as if they were physical objects?

Data visualization in three-dimensional environments with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is revolutionizing the way companies understand and optimize their processes. These emerging technologies are gaining more traction when it comes to visualizing data, as representation in realistic environments enhances cognitive understanding. Their benefits extend beyond entertainment, reaching critical sectors such as medicine and education, and are also finding an increasingly important place in industry.

Before diving into the various benefits, let’s clarify some terms so you can determine which technology is the most interesting for you and how you could benefit from it.

  • What is Virtual Reality?
  • What is Extended Reality?
  • What is Augmented Reality?
  • What is Mixed Reality?

Get ready to discover a new horizon of possibilities where innovation and technology intertwine, creating a fascinating journey towards continuous improvement.

What is virtual reality?

Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that uses special devices, such as glasses or headsets, to simulate three-dimensional environments that do not exist in the real world. Through these devices, users can interact with and move within entirely digital worlds, allowing them to experience immersive environments realistically. Virtual reality has applications in sectors like education, professional training, entertainment, and industrial environment simulations.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality (AR) allows for the superimposition of virtual layers onto the physical world in real-time. This is achieved through smart devices such as AR glasses, tablets, or smartphones. Through these layers, it’s possible to visualize images, videos, data, or even 3D models over objects in the physical environment, as if they were holograms.

This technology has gained widespread popularity, especially recognized through its application in the game Pokémon Go. It’s also commonly found in filters on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok.

Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality does not replace the real world; it complements it, enabling new forms of interaction, which are especially useful in commerce, education, and product design.

AR glasses showing information related to the perceived environment.

What is Mixed Reality?

Mixed Reality (MR) is a technology that combines elements of the real world with virtual elements, using devices like smart glasses that recognize and understand the physical environment. Virtual elements intelligently adapt to real objects, complementing them or adding information and interactive elements that enrich the user experience. In other words, virtual components not only overlay the real world but also understand the context and can interact with it dynamically and in real-time.

It can be hard to differentiate between mixed reality and augmented reality, but to simplify, one easy way to understand it is to see mixed reality as an enhanced version of augmented reality. While Augmented Reality is limited to overlaying images or data onto the physical environment, Mixed Reality goes a step further, allowing virtual elements to interact and respond coherently to the physical environment in which they are located.

What is Extended Reality?

The term Extended Reality (XR) encompasses the previous technologies VR, AR, and MR, as well as other similar technologies that combine real and virtual environments and elements.

The concept of Extended Reality is part of the growing field of Spatial Computing, which also includes innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT) and the metaverse. These technologies are transforming how we interact with our environment and data, offering new opportunities in sectors like entertainment, education, industry, and design.

A graphic illustrating the spectrum of technologies from Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality, ranging from physical reality to fully virtual environments.

Spatial Computing

Spatial computing is an innovative technology that enables interaction with digital data and objects within a real three-dimensional space. Using technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), this discipline transforms the physical environment into an interactive space where digital data can be manipulated as if they were real objects. Spatial computing holds enormous potential in areas like engineering, medicine, and design, where the 3D visualization and manipulation of data facilitate complex processes and improve decision-making.

What’s the difference between Spatial Computing and Extended Reality?

Spatial computing and extended reality (XR) are closely related, though they have distinct focuses. The main distinction between spatial computing and extended reality lies in their scope. Spatial computing is a broader technology that focuses on understanding and mapping the physical environment to integrate digital elements into the three-dimensional space, using sensors, cameras, and advanced algorithms.

On the other hand, extended reality is a term that encompasses the technologies of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), focusing on creating immersive experiences for the end user. Essentially, spatial computing provides the infrastructure and technological capabilities that make many XR applications possible, allowing these experiences to be contextual, accurate, and natural in their interaction with the physical world.

Benefits of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Understanding Industrial Processes

Emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are revolutionizing the way industries understand and optimize their processes. These innovations offer significant benefits that contribute to improved efficiency, safety, and innovation in various sectors.

Cognitive Improvement and Information Retention

VR and AR stimulate cognitive perception, facilitating a deeper understanding and better retention of information. These immersive technologies create memorable experiences that help to:

  • Improve understanding of complex concepts.
  • Increase long-term information retention.
  • Accelerate learning and adaptation processes.

Enhanced Interactivity and Collaboration

The ability to interact with data, dashboards, and animations in real-time offers significant advantages:

  • Better information retention thanks to active participation.
  • Facilitation of communication between teams and departments.
  • Faster and more effective decision-making based on interactive visualizations.

Realistic Simulations for Process Optimization

The creation of virtual scenarios allows for:

  • Identifying potential problems before implementing them in a real environment.
  • Proactively optimizing processes and workflows.
  • Reducing costs associated with errors and rework.

Integration of VR and AR in Modern Industry:

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are part of a more extensive and sophisticated digital ecosystem. Their true potential is unlocked when integrated with other emerging technologies, creating holistic solutions that transform the industry:

  • Internet of Things (IoT): IoT sensors collect real-time data from the physical environment, which can then be visualized in VR/AR environments. For example, in a smart factory, operators can view the status of machines and production in real-time through AR devices.
  • Big Data and Advanced Analytics: Large volumes of data generated are processed and analyzed to offer predictive insights. These can be visualized in immersive VR dashboards, allowing managers to make informed decisions based on complex trends and patterns.
  • BIM (Building Information Modeling) Models: In the construction industry, BIM models are integrated with VR/AR to provide comprehensive management of the building lifecycle. Architects and builders can “walk” through the virtual building, detect conflicts, and optimize the design before physical construction.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: These systems can automate complex processes and improve decision-making. In VR/AR environments, AI can provide virtual assistants to guide users, or object recognition systems that enhance interaction with the augmented environment.
  • Cloud Computing: Enables the processing and storage of large amounts of data needed for complex VR/AR experiences, facilitating access and collaboration from anywhere.

This technological convergence not only improves the efficiency and accuracy of industrial processes but also opens new possibilities for innovation and creative problem-solving. By combining these technologies, companies can create complete digital twins of their operations, simulate complex scenarios, and make data-driven decisions with unprecedented detail and precision.

Implementing VR and AR is transforming the industrial landscape by:

  • Improving training and reducing the learning curve.
  • Facilitating remote collaboration and telework.
  • Optimizing product and process design.
  • Increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
  • Enhancing safety in hazardous work environments.

In conclusion, virtual reality and augmented reality have become indispensable tools for industries seeking to differentiate themselves from the competition and stay competitive in the digital age. These technologies not only enhance the understanding of complex processes but also drive innovation, efficiency, and safety in various industrial sectors. In particular, our team at IMMERSIA, with our TOKII digital twin platform, has applied this technology in the engineering and construction sector through the use of BIM models for Acciona.

If you are interested in learning how Acciona has optimized its processes and decision-making using Augmented Reality in their projects, we invite you to read the Acciona Success Story.

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