Once the pandemic is done, the road to recovery from COVID-19 may be challenging for certain companies due to a variety of factors. These include retraining whatever workforce was lost, working to get productivity back up to normal levels, and communicating challenges across an array of different teams and environments.
Keypoint Intelligence believes that the companies that will recover more quickly from COVID-19, as well as potentially better mitigate the pandemic, may very well be the ones that began to incorporate augmented reality (AR) software and hardware into their standard work procedures.
Before we dive in, here is a brief video rundown of exactly what AR is and how it differs from virtual reality (VR):
To summarize, VR takes the user into a fully digital 3D space. AR (by contrast) overlays the real, physical world with digital information.
Data is everywhere in the 21st century. Some have even compared it to oil, given that an organization can use it to obtain great wealth. That said, oil is a rare substance. It must be discovered, mined, and refined before it is usable. And while data is similar, the sheer amount of it leaves the oil analogy far behind. Moreover, both refined and unrefined data can look virtually identical to the untrained eye.
With that in mind, the more apt comparison is “data is like water.” It’s everywhere, and essential to life. Still, companies can easily drown in it if they are not careful, otherwise they get sick drinking contaminated quantities.
A short time ago, Keypoint Intelligence did a brief examination of how virtual reality could be used for remote collaboration. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has only continued, with many organizations now painfully aware that months of remote work will be needed to survive the crisis. The case totals have increased, and results from China look complex. It appears that the coronavirus (or some close mutation) may be a reality until a vaccine is developed and distributed. Businesses must take any and all steps to ensure their remote workflow procedures are cutting edge.
Konica Minolta’s flagship augmented reality (AR) software platform, genARate, launched back in November 2018, but the company has been supporting, developing, and expanding its usage ever since. For those who may not be familiar, genARate is best described as a content creation tool for the AR space. Like many solutions, it has a mobile component – which currently includes an app that users can download (as well as a web solution…more on that later), and it also has a backend content creation studio that helps clients create intriguing and engaging AR experiences.
Ashley McConnell, Konica Minolta’s International Business Development Manager, recently sat down for a podcast interview with us at Keypoint Intelligence to discuss all the ways he and his company have been working to support genARate, as well as new improvements to the product. One of the big takeaways: While genARate was created with print service providers in mind, the product is seeing success in a new field – marketing and advertising.
Every day brings more troubling news of the coronavirus. What at first seemed like a distant problem has quickly turned into a global event affecting nearly every aspect of business and personal life. As many adjust to a new routine of social distancing, many executives and decision makers are left wondering what they can do to ensure productivity while simultaneously keeping employees in good spirits.
Enter virtual reality—a relatively new tool that has experienced enormous breakthroughs over the last several years. While VR has yet to catch on commercially, it has found success in multiple business verticals. The coronavirus has given businesses a new perspective on VR and its capabilities, which is in turn helping businesses to shift into the digital economy and allow employees to work from home more efficiently.
Despite fears of the coronavirus, tens of thousands of attendees flocked to PAX East at the Boston Convention Center from February 27th to March 1st. The event, which managed to be held before numerous tradeshows and industry events were either postponed or cancelled, marked the continued celebration of video game technologies and the gaming culture. Compared to years past, however, this PAX felt quieter than usual.
Finland-based head-mounted display (HMD) developer Varjo today announced its new virtual reality (VR) headsets, the VR-2 and VR-2 Pro. For those unfamiliar with the company, Varjo operates primarily in the enterprise-level VR hardware market, providing solutions for many companies in the automotive and aviation industries. Prior to this announcement, its primary piece of hardware was the VR-1, a VR headset released last April.
Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne have created a new silicone-based material that, when worn over the human body, simulates a sort of “second skin,” according to a recent article published in the Soft Robotics science journal. According to the preliminary findings this material, when used as a feedback device, marks a vast improvement over haptic feedback technology – which is a leading form of virtual reality (VR) control.
On September 10, Apple hosted its annual Fall event – unveiling its product plans for the coming year. For the most part, everything went as expected. The iPhone 11 was announced (along with Pro versions), as well as the Apple Watch Series 5. A new iPad was also unveiled – one especially designed for entry-level customers. Apple also gave updates to its Apple Arcade and Apple TV plus platforms, pledging continued support and attractive price points. Overall, there really wasn’t much to write headlines about…or was there?
At first, print service providers (PSPs)—including mailing companies and direct mailers—might wonder what they have in common with Netflix. Although the service started out as a direct mail offering, it has since become more associated with online digital streamlining. Nevertheless, a recent technology blog from Netflix has shed some additional light on how the company is pushing its personalization practices forward, making them more advanced and better synced to each individual Netflix user. While this level of personalization is quite advanced now, it will likely become increasingly commonplace in the years ahead.
Many firms, including PSPs, can benefit from absorbing and understanding how Netflix continues to personalize its offerings in today’s digital age.
Augmented Reality, Business Development, Connected Imaging Trends, Consumer & Professional Imaging, coronavirus, Imaging Industry, Innovation, Office, Production, Smart Workplace, Solutions | 
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