Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 17

52 Contact: BRIAN JUDD [email protected] Virtual Reality Virtual Reality (VR) goes one step further than AR by placing the user in a fully synthetic environment that replaces their view of the real world. This means that users can view and interact with complete environments that are either inaccessible or haven’t yet been built. Large pieces of equipment, such as melting furnaces, can be fully explored from the inside out for operator familiarization, and proposed facility layouts can be trialed before any commitment is made to actual construction. As with AR, multiple VR users can be placed in the same virtual environment. However, in this case, they no longer have to be in the same physical environment, as all aspects of the digital content can be shared online. VR training, like AR, can be self-guided and on-demand and completed from any location. The same style of collaboration tools is available, allowing users to modify and add to the 3D models, add notations, and converse freely. VR simulations can be set up anywhere a small amount of floor space can be dedicated to it, including meeting rooms, offices, and tradeshow booths. VR modules can be added to a website for users to experience on their own from home or remote offices. FITTING INTO YOUR WORKFLOW Many products and visions can be created as a 3D visualization prior to execution, saving both time and costs for producers, manufacturers, and customers. 3D visualization provides the ability to show interior and exterior designs, layouts, lighting, texture, and even geography, before development. 3D visualization improves the manufacturing process by keeping up with design changes and evolving ideas. Engineers and production teams can work together to customize and realize concepts at any scale and iterate faster on designs while gathering feedback from clients.