Until 2025, virtual and augmented realities will move more than US$35 billions. This is what a study by the financial group Goldman Sachs revealed. Much of this should come from public and private companies – more than $ 16.1 billion.

According to these numbers, it’s possible to see that these new technologies are here to stay, right? And it is not different in the universe of training and development, appropriating applications in various areas such as engineering, health and sales.

In this article, we will talk specifically about augmented reality (AR) in corporate education, which is different from virtual reality, also widely known by the acronym VR. In fact, let’s explain this distinction.

After all, what is augmented reality?

The better way to start explaining this technology is the Snapchat filters for photos and videos. Do you remember them? Who has never done or seen a dog-faced person, for example? Or did you play the Pokémon Go app, in which Pikachu and other species almost become part of the real world via a smartphone screen?

Augmented reality is the integration between the physical and the virtual realms. Always through a screen, it is an interactive real-world experience in which you alter a scenario seen by a user with the naked eye.

The RA stimulates immersive feelings, making new elements naturally part of an environment. Its most common applications are for gaming, marketing and, of course, training.

A Live-streamed video that has some computational graphic added to its space can also be categorized as a kind of augmented reality.

Why is it different from virtual reality?

The VR glasses are on the rise. Moreover, there are even several brands, such as Samsung and Sony, popularizing the technology. In this type of experience, the user has his vision 100% replaced by a virtual scenario, through the afore mentioned glasses, helmets, gloves, joysticks and/or sensors.

The RA is, therefore, a complement or a change in the real world.

How RA can be applied in training?

T&D professionals can take advantage of augmented reality to offer a unique learning experience, generating greater absorption of knowledge and engagement.

Maybe, RA’s biggest advantage is to be applied in trainings which are based on very real action simulations. This assesses whether the employee is learning, directing improvement points to increase retention of information transmitted.

Some RA applications in training are:

  • E-learning, adding some elements as infographics or recreations of corporate environments;
  • Decision making by an industry machine operator, for example, by simulating risk situations;
  • Maintenance simulations of more robust and complex equipment;
  • In Health, the experience of surgery without patients to improve movements;
  • Assembly simulations and repairs of cars, airplanes, ships and more.

Benefits of the augmented reality in T&D

Companies that already use the RA in their training courses gave a competitive advantage in the market. Go below for the main benefits of integrating it to the corporative education:

Fast learning and feedback

The integration with the real world makes it’s easier and accelerates the students learning. Also, it improves the efficiency of absorbing skills and competencies. The training professional creates instant feedback, ratings and recurring updates.

More employee’s safety

Simulations in various areas are possible through augmented reality. Risky or complex situations can be safely trained. This reduces the risks to staff, as well as possible wear and tear of equipment, for example.

Mass training

You can get many people trained at the same time by the RA application through a mobile screen. Employees can take classes from the device itself by interacting with some embedded RA application.

Cost reduction

As the employees use their own cell phones to complete training courses, your company does not need to invest in equipment, simulations and machines. Another advantage is that everything can be done at distance, at the most appropriate time and place for the student.

Want to know more? Talk to one of our experts. 🙂