The Impact of Augmented Reality for Training in 2020

With over 100 companies working on augmented reality (AR) technology for training, could 2020 be the year when this trend goes mainstream? In this article, we discuss the following, with valuable insights from Leo Blankenship, VP and learning offerings leader at Conduent:

• The rise of viable, at-scale AR applications in training
• 4 ways in which AR could transform training in 2020
• How AR enables a converged learning experience

Augmented reality (AR) has the potential to revolutionize the training industry completely. From corporate training in areas like soft skills to hands-on learning in sectors like manufacturing and healthcare, there are countless use cases for the application of this technology.

2019’s Training Industry Sector Report Opens a new window by the VR/AR Association lists 100+ companies eager to help organizations transform their training capabilities with AR.

But despite this level of interest, the adoption of AR in training is still at a nascent stage. While there are several disruptive startups and promising investments, the use of this technology training is yet to go mainstream.

So, is 2020 the year when we see mass adoption of AR? HR Technologist spoke to Leo Blankenship, vice president and learning offerings leader at ConduentOpens a new window , exclusively on this topic. In January 2020, Conduent released an AR solution for customer service and learning & development.

Learn More: AR Meets HR – How Augmented Reality Can Strengthen Learning & DevelopmentOpens a new window

Why 2020 Is the Year of Augmented Reality in Training

Blankenship emphasized the slow pace of AR adoption in training as well as in other enterprise functions.

“At this point in time, the actual number of clients/companies widely deploying AR solutions for learning, knowledge [management], or communication is relatively small.  We think that many companies are still at the early stage of assessing when and where to best use the AR delivery modality,” he told us, pointing out the ease of implementing AR in training.

Traditionally, AR was held back by cumbersome form factors and a high cost of deployment. AR/Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality (MR) equipment is expensive, battery intensive, and challenging to scale.

“[Companies are still] making decisions about which form of AR delivery they will use (e.g., through the smartphone screen/camera, via headsets, or sophisticated heads-up displays,” Blankenship said.

But in the last few years, AR technology has evolved in leaps and bounds, significantly increasing its viability. It is now possible to imagine a large-scale implementation of AR training without breaking the bank.

Take the recent example of Precision OS TechnologyOpens a new window , a company that offers AR/VR training solutions to healthcare professionals. For the first time, the company was able to train 300+ professionals in half an hour, along with a 570% gain in learning efficiency.

“We do think that the use of AR delivery modality will be inexpensive enough to be appealing to large and small businesses, and may even be led by early adopters in the SMB segment,” noted Blankenship. Interestingly, SMBs are a prime candidate for AR in training this year, as a more straightforward organizational structure and fewer protocol barriers for digital transformation could pave the way for faster adoption.

Learn More: Upskilling Strategy 2020 – Is Your Workforce Acquiring Extended Reality (XR) Skills?Opens a new window

4 Ways in Which Augmented Reality Could Impact Training this Year

“I think we will continue to see mostly early adopters in the next 12 to 24 months. But we do believe that the AR delivery modality will become an important normalized delivery modality within the next 3 to 5 years,” Blankenship told us.

So, how will this impact the learning and developmentOpens a new window sector? Here are four possibilities:

1. Augmented Reality for training will help overcome cognitive barriers

Hands-on skills – such as surgery, equipment assembly, machine maintenance, field service operations, etc. – have a steep learning curve. They require learners to construct a 3D image of objects in their head from 2D learning materials, and this takes a lot of cognitive effort. AR can help to overcome these barriers, allowing learners to experience, imbibe, and test the skills that they learn.

2. The public sector will embrace AR for training purposes in a big way

In 2020, the public sector will be among the largest early adopters of AR in training. Recently, AR/MR company, ThirdEye, teamed upOpens a new window with technology provider 3D Media to support the training of the U.S. Air Force.

And this isn’t an isolated move. The U.S. Ignite – an advisory group for local governments – is also investing in AR Opens a new window (among other technologies), and we expect this trend to continue across the next few years.

3. An augmented learning experience platform (LXP) could be on the cards

The LXP Opens a new window was a massive upgrade on traditional learning management systems (LMSOpens a new window ). AR could take this one step further by creating an entire library of augmented video materials that can be consumed either via dedicated glasses or on smartphones.

An early example in this space is the LXP by Jolokia and NexTech AROpens a new window , powered by interactive video, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality for better training.

4. Prevention of harassment and discrimination in the workplace will be a vital use case

This particular use case could be responsible for driving the widespread adoption of AR in training. Research by Harvard Business ReviewOpens a new window found that the number of women who reported gender harassment increased from 76% to a whopping 92% between 2016 and 2018. Anti-harassment training and simulated gender interaction scenarios through AR could be used to address this.

Speaking of the varied applications of AR for training, Blankenship said, “I think the initial applications will be in ‘simulated role-play’ that will allow an end-user to practice the soft skills [like interacting with other genders and minority demographics] and receive direct feedback from the ML engine based on their performance.”

Learn More: Knowing the Different Types of Sexual Harassment Is an Important Step in PreventionOpens a new window

Towards a Faster Convergence of Disciplines: What 2020 Has in Store

An essential way in which AR will alter the learning paradigm is the convergence of disparate disciplines such as training, communications, and content assets/knowledge management.

In an AR-powered world, employees will be able to interact in simulated environments, streamlining both communication and skills development. It would also enable in-the-moment learning (e.g., a field operator accessing content through an embedded display on their helmet), effectively blurring the lines between training and knowledge sharingOpens a new window /management.

Here’s how Blankenship explains this trend: “AR will be one of the key delivery modalities that will drive the convergence even more quickly. Because AR has the capability to deliver information to the end-user right at the point of performance, employees will no longer differentiate between whether what they are interacting with is a ‘Learning Action,’ and ‘Internal Communication’ or ‘Stored Knowledge.’ 

“They will just see the AR device and the delivered information as a means to help them do their work more effectively, timely, and safely,” he added.

While there has been a lot of hype about AR in training in the last half-decade (we were eager to see this technology take off since 2016’s Pokemon Go!), its mainstream utilization is just gaining momentum. Smarter form factors and longer battery life is making AR viable at scale.

AR’s ability to accelerate cognitive absorption, prevent instances of harassment/discrimination and transfer capabilities in the public sector will amplify interest and investment in 2020.

Together, these trends will result in a brand-new learning experience Opens a new window where collaboration, skills acquisition, and knowledge/content access are an organic part of everyday work.

What are your thoughts on the potential of AR for training in 2020? Tell us on FacebookOpens a new window , LinkedInOpens a new window , or TwitterOpens a new window . We’d love to hear your views on this topic!