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work as built. Scroll forward in starts rolling with wearables that Moverio BT-200 glasses are on 2017. Expect beefed-up procesWith the Smart Helmet, the the model, and you can see if users interact with hands-free, the market, as well. And Sony sors and more and better sensors technician can pull up schematanything being done today will or nearly so, to get project data has issued the software developand cameras to locate the device ics, repair procedures and parts interfere with the next steps in on site. For all of the media covment kit for its SmartEyeglass. and sense user movements with manuals that offer step-by-step the process. erage of AR-capable wearable Today’s most promising greater accuracy. instructions for diagnosing a “In the AEC (architecture/ computers, however, the feature wearable tech is currently in pro“Microsoft’s bill of materiproblem, finding necessary parts engineering/construction) world, list on those currently available totype or beta stage. Designs als (for Hololens) is about $200. and making the repair. AR is part of the natural proon the market is short, and their generally start with adapting They’re going after the consumer A technician servicing congression of extending BIM performance is not yet up to the smartphone and tablet technolmarket; we have not constrained struction equipment in the field from the line office to the job demands of interacting with 4D ogy to wearable forms (glasses ourselves in that way,” says Andy could use these capabilities to trailer and the project space,” construction models. primarily). But the positioning Lowry, president of Daqri, a access a machine’s history of fault says Dace Campbell, custom“They all need faster hardcapacity must be far more accucompany whose Smart Helmet is codes, condition monitoring er success manager at Autodesk. ware, better optics, faster rate than a phone. One of the designed for industrial use. “Our data, repair history, service man“Augmented reality takes the processors, better graphics cards,” most vexing hurdles, after solvprice point is more in the range ual and parts manual, and even BIM from the architect and says Benham. “That’s what ing the miracle of projecting and of $10,000 per helmet.” call in off-site experts for trouputs it in the hands of bleshooting and repair advice. people swinging hamSomebody will mers and making make the business Microsoft labels HoloLens a “holographic computer.” While it can overlay data on the users’ perthe final decisions case to integrate on how a finished the software and spective of the real world as in AR, Hololens can also anchor holographic objects to specific physical project is going to networks neceslocations in their world. The headset is powered by a self-contained computer running Windows 10. look. BIM increassary to create an AR The company claims the device understands human gestures and where you look, and maps the world es the effectiveness app for construcaround the user in real time. Hololens is not yet available, and Microsoft’s official word on when softof communication, tion equipment. ware development kits (SDK) will be offered is “soon.” www.hololens.com comprehension and Lowry expects they confidence.” will be able to get Osterhout Design Group (ODG) developed the R-7 Smart Glasses started with the for enterprise applications. They are said to be industrial grade basics for $20,000 and are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor runto $25,000, and Epson entered the smart glasses market in 2011 ning ODG’s Android-based ReticleOS operating system capable of implementing all of and recently revealed the enterprise-grade Moverio generating AR and VR experiences. SDK were issued in June. ODG the Smart Helmet’s Pro BT-2000 Smart Headset. It adds a 5-megapixel is currently taking pre-orders for the glasses at $2,750 per pair capabilities could stereo camera and Epson IMU to the consumer-level BT-200 run up to “a few for shipment “later in 2015.” www.osterhoutgroup.com Smart Glasses for 3D depth-sensing and accurate head tracking. A tethered hundred thousand controller offers a microSDHC card slot memory addition and hot-swappable dollars.” battery. The BT-200 sells for $700, but no word on the BT-2000’s MSRP. Epson WHY AR IS Consider the INEVITABLE fact that Trimble is says the BT-2000 will be available in the U.S. in Fall 2015. http://bit.ly/1JdbW4U Benham’s company working with Microsoft to inteoffers SmartReality, a grate BIM data — where the free augmented reality app for Hololens is working on with scaling the imagery on lens-sized return on investment in AR is tablets that uses the tablet’s camMicrosoft. That’s what Daqri screens, is souping up hardvirtually guaranteed — with era to recognize the paper plans is working on with its Smart ware and software to recognize Daqri’s Intellitrack software Microsoft’s Hololens AR glassfor a client’s project and fetchHelmet (www.daqri.com). That’s gestures, but network connecapplies Smart Helmet’s 360° es (development kits coming in es a BIM model of that project what Magic Leap is working on. tivity and image quality are also array of cameras and indus2016). Another Trimble division stored on JBKnowledge serv“The next leap that we’re all pernicious. trial inertial measurement unit works with Caterpillar on the ers. The screen displays a view waiting for is the right viewing Benham, as a software develto map the environment the Vision Link network that brings of the model from the user’s perhardware,” he adds. oper, has seen much of the wave Smart Helmet sees in 3D so equipment owners detailed spective. SmartReality users can The “who’s who” of compaof new devices expected to break it can overlay digital informachine productivity and stamove around and in the model nies scrambling to develop AR in the coming 12 months, and mation precisely, and provide tus data. to see in detail — from whathardware suggests imminent he believes some have what it the data necessary to quickly If venture capital markets ever point of view they choose breakthrough. takes to bring real value on projmodel as-built surroundings. remain as flush with cash as — how the project is to be Facebook made waves with its ect sites. Once the hardware Communications capability they are today, more players will constructed. purchase of the Oculus VR stucompanies have issued softallows a user to contact off-site apply AR to a market as large This relatively basic AR dio (for $2 billion) more than ware development kits, software experts, show them what they’re and desperate for mobile data to application is already changa year ago. Google has invested developers will take on the task working on using the helmet’s augment the decision-making ing the way contractors sell heavily in next-generation AR/ of writing programs that intecameras and confer with them interface between technician and projects. Benham recalls how VR studio Magic Leap, whose grate data streams, network with about problems and solutions. machine. Most AR devices claim SmartReality put a new spin on technology anticipates projectthe devices and allow the user to “Think of everything it could to be capable of the core features a contractor’s pitch to a school ing digital information through select information they want to replace: digital cameras, comexpected from Smart Helmet, board for a $68 million contract. your cornea onto your retina augment their world. puters, two-way communication although less-expensive wearables “The school board memwall. Apple and Microsoft both The perceived boundlessness systems, an infrared camera, a are unlikely to be able to probers each got an iPad and they have divisions dedicated to AR of the gaming and entertain3D mapping tool,” says Lowry. duce as refined a user experience. pointed them at the plan file and VR, with Microsoft unveilment markets are providing “The price isn’t too far afield The coming generation of AR and the 3D model came out of ing pre-production Hololens AR the greatest pull for developers. from that of the equipment that glasses and other wearable visuthe plans,” says Benham. “They glasses integrated with the comBut enough notable innovators the helmet could replace.” alization hardware has changed were able to manipulate it with pany’s Windows 10 operating and opportunists are customthe important unknowns. There’s their hands and view it from system released in July. izing products for what will FLEET MANAGEMENT VALUE no longer a question of “if ” augtheir own perspective. And they JBKnowledge has a version likely be more profitable indusDaqri is working with select mented reality will be applied to approved it. One of the school of SmartReality that runs on trial and other enterprise AR software developers to build construction. The key question board members said it was the Samsung’s Gear VR, simple VR and VR applications that it Smart Helmet applications. One is how soon contractors will be first time they voted on a project goggles powered by a Samsung seems likely there will be choicof the first projects is developing able to find competitive advanthey really felt they understood.” Galaxy Note smartphone and es of devices to satisfy the most capabilities that could improve tage in available off-the-shelf The AR revolution really clipped into the headset. Epson’s ambitious business users before equipment management. applications. ET
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EPSON MOVERIO PRO BT-2000 SMART HEADSET
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