Industry
Virtual production is directly connected to the advancements made in real-time computing and human-computer interaction. Virtual reality, augmented reality and extended reality combine with sensing and display technologies to broaden the space in which these technologies can be used.
Impact of Extended-Reality Advancements
Advancements in virtual, augmented and extended reality are having a massive impact on industries of all kinds. The Virtual Production Institute is using extended reality technology to advance problem-solving and support workforce development across industries.
Here’s a look at how these extended-reality advancements are bringing positive results in specific areas.
Manufacturing
Efficiency is everything in manufacturing, from product design and quality control to keeping a supply chain moving and profitable. Virtual and augmented reality technology can help each step of the way.
Take an assembly line, for example, which requires people or machinery to complete specific tasks in a particular amount of time to keep things moving. Creating a digital twin — a virtual representation that utilizes sensors to generate real-time data — can identify potential disruptions in the line, and how the line could achieve higher efficiency.
Warehouse management efficiency can be increased by using augmented reality smart glasses, which provide instant inventory details and locations. Similarly, quick virtual access to machinery schematics can lead to better maintenance practices.
Health Care
Extended reality has brought many benefits to the medical field. Doctors can utilize it to prepare for surgery and to engage in virtual versions of the procedure. During the surgery, an augmented reality headset allows doctors to see vital information while maintaining focus on the patient, with images overlaid on their field of view.
Virtual reality simulations assist in training for procedures for nurses and medical students, such as wound care and navigating an operating or emergency room. These simulations can include how to communicate with a patient and help them understand what will happen during a procedure.
Physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and rehabilitation also benefit from augmented and virtual reality.
Military/First Responders
Military and first-responder training is a natural fit for augmented and virtual reality. Whether it’s the platform involved (specialized vehicles), the potential dangers of high-risk environments or the price (training on high-tech equipment), it’s valuable to supplement training through simulated environments and repeatable, low-penalty-for-failure scenarios.
Aerospace
Like the military and first responders, the aerospace industry has taken advantage of extended reality for its large-scale needs. NASA, for example, uses it in training to make repairs in a most distant environment: the International Space Station. Other in-space projects have included holograms with 3D schematics, remote use of robotic arms and analysis of astronauts’ exercise routines.
Closer to home, augmented and virtual reality are involved with flight simulations, flight deck designs, head-up display screens for pilots, creating equipment prototypes and remote maintenance for aircraft.
Architecture
Extended reality plays a significant role in building design and construction. By creating a virtual-reality version of a building, architects can experience it and look for potential weaknesses prior to construction. The ability for a client to explore a virtual representation brings them into that immersive world, increasing their understanding of the process and how the building will look and feel.
Remote collaboration is another benefit for architects and designers. People in different locations interacting in the same virtual environment can increase communication and efficiency.
Historic preservation benefits as well, as virtual representations of landmark buildings can give us a glimpse into the past. Meanwhile, overlaying computer-generated imagery over existing structures gives us a view of what could be possible in the future.
Live Production
Theater, dance and music productions can utilize virtual production stages and technologies to provide live entertainment to both in-person and remote audiences. The in-person audience experience is amplified through display technology and augmented-reality interactions, while the remote audience can experience immersion into the performance including the use of virtual environments and augmenting the performer’s presentations.
Popular social gaming platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite have utilized this format to enable participation in live virtual concerts for audiences from around the world.