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What is Augmented Reality Training? Everything You Need to Know

Augmented Reality Training adds interactive, digital elements to a live, real-world environment through a tablet, phone, or headset. AR can be used in corporate training in the following areas:

  • Technical Skills
  • Multi-Step Tasks
  • Onboarding
  • Product Knowledge Training

Are you wondering how you can upgrade your training program? Have you considered Augmented Reality? Compared to Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality (AR) is an attainable addition to your training program that is customizable, mobile, and engaging.

In this article, we will get back to the basics of augmented reality, including, what augmented reality is, how it’s used for training and development, along with the advantages and disadvantages of augmented reality training programs.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality adds interactive, digital elements to a live, real-world environment through a phone, tablet, or headset. You can use your device to manipulate the computer-generated objects in a 3D space, seeing everything as if it were in front of you, and more because you can see inside objects or manipulate the object size.

Augmented reality technologies offer a dynamic alternative to traditional training. This immersive technology can provide risk-free, environments and, scenarios that allow employees to sharpen skills needed for the job.

Examples of AR Corporate Training uses:

  • Technical Skills – Teach employees the parts of a product or piece of equipment by allowing them to see inside and click on the elements for explanations. Prompt them to physically pick up virtual objects, rotate large objects, and more.
  • Multi-Step Tasks – Work through troubleshooting products and repair equipment by outlining the steps and guiding the employee to work through the problem step by step.
  • Onboarding – Introduce new employees by showing them the ins and outs of the business, shop floor, processes, and more from their phone or tablet
  • Product Knowledge Training – You can put products in front of your employees without even having the products on location. With AR, your employees can see existing or new products and familiarize themselves with all of the components and how it works, right on a phone, tablet, or headset.

How to Use Augmented Reality in Training

According to an ISACA survey, Augmented Reality (AR) consumers across five different countries rated AR as one of the top three technologies for training and development.

Whether your organization needs to develop technical skills like maintenance and repair or upgrade its onboarding programs and change management initiatives, AR is a solution that captivates all generations of workers.

AR Image Targeting

Employees can scan real-world 2D images and overlay 2D video, text, and pictures or 3D objects on it. AR Image Targeting can aid employees on the job, add flavor to onboarding training, or enhance current ILT/eLearning courses.

AR Ground Plane Object Breakaway

Your employees can place a 3D model of any object onto a tabletop or floor surface. They can then rotate the object, break the object apart to view internal components, and get detailed information — or even find step-by-step instructions — on how to repair or install the object.

AR Scenario Training

Users can place a 3D model of any object onto a tabletop or floor surface. They can interact with the object and interact with actors (or objects) simultaneously with branched learning.

Choosing an Augmented Reality Training Partner 

Investing in AR equipment and programs can be daunting, and it may be challenging to get buy-in from your leadership team. Success or failure depends on choosing the right partner to develop your augmented reality training program. An AR developer will work with you to select your equipment and platform, design, and program your AR elements and implement them to your team. 

What to ask possible augmented reality partners:

  • Ask to see their portfolio
  • Ask for pricing information upfront
  • Ask if they have won any awards for their work
  • Ask to see case studies of past projects or a reference list
  • Ask if they have any ratings or reviews

Pros and Cons of Augmented Reality Training

Advantages

  • Safe Learning Environment – You can give your employees a safe learning environment where they can take risks without affecting customers or the business.

  • Interactive and Engaging – AR is new to most people, when you tell your employees that they get to use AR, it will create a buzz and get people excited to use the technology and participate in the development program.

  • Mobility – The great thing about AR is that it is mobile-friendly. You can load a program to a phone or tablet and take it with you around your workplace to expand the reach. You can also load up products and information to use anywhere. 

Read More: How Immersive Leadership Training Can Improve Employee Retention 

Disadvantages

  • Cost – Start-up costs for augmented reality training programs can be higher than alternatives. Between the hardware, designing, programming, etc. it may be daunting to your leadership team.

Solution – The longer you use your augmented reality training system, the higher the ROI you receive in the long run. There are also many studies to show the effectiveness of AR training courses.

  • Development Time – Once you decide to integrate augmented reality into your training program, you need to work with designers and developers to put your plan into place. Make sure you build this into your implementation timeline.

  • Technology Development – We are all excited to start using augmented reality, but think about what the future holds! Newer hardware, upgrade capabilities and brand new accessories. While this is exciting to imagine, it also means that you may have to refresh your program to stay current.

Solution – Find a partner who will advise you on the right technology to invest in now. Some AR programs allow the owners to be agile and update regularly.

Is Augmented Reality Training Right for You?

We covered everything you need to know to get started with augmented reality training, including what augmented reality is, how it’s used for training and development, along with the advantages and disadvantages of augmented reality training programs.
69% of people believe that AR can help them learn a new skill. So now it’s time to ask, Is Augmented Reality right for you?

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