Yet another use for augmented reality has been discovered by a research team from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan.
This team of researchers has come up with an augmented reality guidance system that can provide new hires or inexperienced workers with remote guidance that can help to improve their performance in navigating challenging situations.
The system is currently in a prototype stage of development, but it works by making it possible for a worker’s first-person perspective to be shared while within a difficult work environment with a more experienced individual who is located off-site. This occurs by offering guidance by way of a microphone, head mounted camera and an augmented reality application that was developed by the AIST researchers.
The team explained that the off-site expert’s camera takes a video that extracts specific colors. This way, the colored gloves worn by the expert are superimposed over what the worker needing assistance will see. That way, if the worker simply copies the hand movements of the expert, then the results that would have been achieved if the expert were present can be achieved.
The researchers added that they have created the system specifically for use in environments that present a physical challenge. Moreover, all of the system’s parts are washable. This means that it would be possible for this remote augmented reality system to be used in an environment where high temperatures or even radiation is present and where assistance is required, but without bringing in additional personnel.
