Getting the most out of technology can be difficult and frustrating. Often the the expectation of improved practices or reduced costs do not materialize. There can be many reasons for this which include incorrect positioning or poor change management. Perhaps the most important reason is the readiness and fit of the technology to the work environment. Technology that requires modification to work properly or to fit with other equipment will create a barrier to its use, making it very difficult to unlock its true value.
When selecting new technology, fit should be the first criteria to consider. Technology specifically designed to operate within an industry can be evaluated as "industry ready". This label provides comfort that a technology will be ready to go, allowing customers to find the best uses and to unlock the most value possible.
When it comes to Augmented reality technology use in the oil industry there are several important criteria to consider. For unrestricted use on oil and gas installations, the technology must be certified as explosion proof. However, additional characteristics including usability, ergonomics, environment suitability, connectivity and software and security are also critical. Only technology that ranks high in all these categories should be considered as fit for purpose.
Ergonomics
The interaction between the technology and the employee must be optimized to minimize the impact on the employee. Augmented Reality technology should be comfortable to wear for extended periods, with any additional weight being balanced on the head to avoid neck strain. Augmented reality users will look through a viewer for extended periods and a poor design can cause eye strain and headaches. Technology that detracts from normal operations can also be a hazard, it is preferable to be able to easily remove or repositioned any device while not in use.
Environment
Industrial situations can vary greatly, and conditions can make it challenging to use poorly designed equipment. Technology can limit or prevent use because it is not suitable for operation in adverse conditions. These conditions include the presence of flammable gases or humidity or rain that could impact the operation of the technology. Use in windy or noisy conditions can make communication difficult. Ambient light can detract from the experience either if not designed to operate in low light or bright sunlight. Robustness should also be considered, as a device may need to withstand bumps or drops.
Connectivity
For technologies like augmented reality, connectivity is key. Being able to connect seamlessly and in all parts of a facility are essential. More than 90% of issues with Augmented / Assisted Reality are due to poor connectivity, resulting from poor connectivity planning. The ability to connect to multiple sources allows redundancy if a primary option fails and if no connection is possible then offline mode will also be important.
Security
Personal and company data security is increasingly important, these must also be considered in the technology design and capabilities. GDPR guidelines should be incorporated, and the data should be securely stored within the firewall of its owner.
The Augmented Reality Technology offered by Streamsolution, provides a fully integrated solution with visual and sound. Light weight and integrated into standard PPE, the dual high definition screens makes the solution very user friendly. It comes with a handheld camera for close up work in small spaces and includes a thermal functionality. It is very simple to operate in all environments. Connectivity is straightforward with both 4G and wifi connections as well as offline mode and a dedicated software interface makes it simple to start using immediately.
When it comes to industry fit, the augmented reality solution form Streamsolution is the best on the market.