Manufacturing technology
gaps there,” says Erkoyuncu. “There’s still some work to be done in developing the technology, but I think it can be done.”
London-based maxillofacial surgeon Dr Kavin Andi has similar concerns. Though he concedes that Moore’s law means that rising computational power allows for better 3D image manipulation – especially when dovetailed by new chip architecture and AI – he isn’t as convinced about AR in other areas. Sensors still have a long way to go, he says, “with one of the huge challenges today being registration and tracking”.
Erkoyuncu believes that AR-inflected training cannot simply be imposed on reluctant workers.
as they can add instructions and user prompts directly in the field of view. Video can also be used for trainees to learn and practice in the absence of a trainer. For Erkoyuncu, combining AR with VR and AI will be essential in achieving real-time data analysis and improved confidence, from surgical outcomes in healthcare to training assemblers on the production line. Because they sharpen efficiency and reduce excess workloads, meanwhile, machines like the SZX-AR1 help plug the skills gap, with assemblers onboarded more quickly and efficiently – and without the need for laborious training sessions. Medical manufacturing company Medtronic is an example of how successful this approach can be in practice. According to a company case study, after all, the medical device giant saved $33,000 per individual on every worker trained via AR, even as staff.
90%
Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance
62
The percentage decrease of human errors as a result of AR training, with improved training times of 60%.
A standardised approach Yet if Erkoyuncu reiterates that “training and skills” are clearly important, he equally notes that AR-inflected training can’t simply be imposed on reluctant workers. “If you engage with different staff, the appetite to adopt these technologies varies,” he warns. “We should question why there is hesitance in some cases, to understand whether this is due to a lack of awareness or fears of the technology. We have to go down the digitalisation path, especially amid huge resource challenges. The key question is where we digitalise and how.” That’s echoed by broader worries. For if AR technology might be ready for use, experts believe there is still work to be done in how this technology is developed, and where it is applied for increasingly intricate and complex processes.
“There has to be an approach where you can trace the evidence, and at the moment I think there’s some
Given the data collected through AR sensors provides manufacturers and medical staff with improved traceability, enabling them to thoroughly examine manual processes, this is clearly important. That’s especially when traceability offers manufacturers a comprehensive view of the entire production process, facilitating the identification of areas for improvement, bottlenecks or defective processes.
Design issues Speak to Andi, however, and arguably the biggest problem with AR technologies involves the design of wearable systems.
“Certain components are developing faster than others, but we’re not there yet, in terms of what is required,” says Andi. “Hardware is a huge problem, such as headsets and displays. While lens technology has been improving over the years, there are still limitations with field of view and resolution. We also need the hardware to become thinner and lighter. If you’re going to be in an operating theatre, most complex procedures take several hours. If we’re going to utilise that technology, then it needs to be comfortable to wear.”
The same principle can be applied to those working on the assembly line, where discomfort could affect the factory operations – and ultimately pose a risk to manufacturing quality. Andi, for his part, also notes his frustration with the ergonomic design for AR wearable equipment not being adaptable for different users.
“It clearly affects depth perception,” he says, urging that AR equipment be designed with “more diversity in interpupillary distance” so as not to “exclude potential users”.
Among other infrastructural requirements, Andi calls for increased targeted funding and research, along with continued teamwork between manufacturers, medical staff, and policymakers to further AR’s development sufficiently. Given AR has the potential to accelerate processes with greater accuracy and productivity – while efficiently training workers in a more engaging and digitised manner – such collaboration surely makes sense. ●
Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com
Party people studio/
Shutterstock.com
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