Mixed reality is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s here, and it’s here to stay.
The integration of mixed reality technology (MR) in business operations has been a topic of interest for some time. However, it wasn’t until the sudden shift towards remote work in 2020, when companies realized the true value of bridging the gap between the physical and the digital.
Mixed reality is not only being used to streamline key business operations like employee onboarding or training, but also to improve product development, visualization, and even sales and marketing. Time and time again, MR continues to prove its ability to significantly enhance collaboration, communication, and innovation, making it a viable tool for businesses to become more efficient, productive and profitable. Let’s explore some of the ways in which MR can benefit your business today.
What is Mixed Reality?
Mixed Reality (MR) is a term used to describe a spectrum of technologies that blend the physical and digital worlds to create a seamless and interactive experience for the user. It includes both Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) and can be experienced through a variety of devices such as smartphones, headsets, and specialized equipment.
In Augmented Reality (AR), digital elements such as images, videos, or 3D models are overlaid on the real world, allowing the user to see and interact with both digital and physical objects. AR can be experienced through a smartphone camera, a specialized AR headset, or even through smart glasses.
In Virtual Reality (VR), the user is fully immersed in a digital world, shutting out the physical world entirely. This can be done through VR headsets that cover the entire field of view, creating a sense of presence and immersion for the user.
Mixed Reality (MR) is the combination of both AR and VR. By allowing users to have the digital element fully integrated in the real world, AR provides a far more seamless interaction. And since virtual objects can be anchored to real-world locations, all MR interactions feel more natural and intuitive to the user.
The future of business in the new, mixed reality world
From virtual meetings to virtual product demonstrations or immersive employee training, mixed reality has the potential to change the way we do business in several ways.
Collaboration
One thing we’ve learned after 2020 is that while remote working has its perks, it can also make us feel isolated from our colleagues. We have all experienced Zoom fatigue at one point or another while working from home, and it became painfully obvious that face-to-face interactions cannot be simply replaced with video calls. But that’s where things get interesting when it comes to mixed reality.
By creating interactive virtual environments where remote teams can interact with each other and digital objects, MR enhances remote collaboration by creating a sense of presence and connection. This can be achieved through the use of avatars, which are digital representations of each team member, and virtual meeting spaces, where team members can meet and work together in a shared virtual environment.
For example, in a virtual meeting room, team members can see and interact with each other’s avatars, as well as digital objects such as documents, presentations, and 3D models. This can help to reduce feelings of isolation and increase engagement, leading to smoother and more effective collaboration.
Communication
Mixed reality can also improve communication by allowing team members to visualize and share information in a more immersive way. This can be especially important in remote collaboration, where context is often lost in virtual communication. With mixed reality, team members can interact with digital information in a way that is more similar to the way they would interact with physical information, providing a more accurate understanding of the context.
For example, by using mixed reality, team members can collaborate on 3D models and prototypes in real-time, regardless of their location, which can lead to faster decision-making and product development.
Additionally, mixed reality can improve the way we conduct meetings. Instead of relying on traditional video conferencing, team members can participate in virtual meetings in a shared mixed reality space. The use of avatars, hand gestures, and spatial audio can also help to add more context to the virtual meeting, giving the feeling of being in the same physical space.
Innovation
Mixed reality will not only change the way we innovate but also the way we approach research and development. By allowing team members to visualize and interact with digital prototypes in a more immersive way, businesses can iterate faster and make better-informed decisions. This can be especially useful in product development, design, and engineering, where being able to see and test a product in a realistic and interactive way can help to identify potential issues or opportunities early on.
Furthermore, mixed reality can help to facilitate co-creation and co-innovation by allowing team members from different locations and disciplines to collaborate and visualize ideas together in real-time, resulting in a more diverse set of ideas and solutions.
But let’s not forget about another, important aspect of business innovation, as mixed reality has a great potential to change the way we market and sell products. Businesses will be able to create interactive and immersive product demonstrations, allowing potential customers to experience products in a way that was not possible before. Giving customers a chance to have a realistic and interactive experience with the product before they purchase increases their confidence that the product fits their needs, resulting in higher engagement and conversion rates.
Grow and scale your business with Mixed Reality
The important thing to understand about MR is that this technology isn’t about making small tweaks to make your workplace more engaging; it’s about making a real difference to your bottom line – fast. And that’s where Braindance Studio comes in. We assist businesses of all sizes and across various industries in implementing MR as a useful tool, based on their company’s needs, requirements, and resources to ensure its viability and business value.
Interested to see how we can help your business utilize the potential of mixed reality? Reach out to us today.
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