For allthisfuture, the innovation laboratory of WWZ (Central Switzerland’s power, telecoms, and water provider) we have implemented an AR-experience with Azure Spatial Anchors.
The case
For allthisfuture, the innovation laboratory of WWZ (Central Switzerland’s power, telecoms, and water provider) we have implemented an AR-experience with Azure Spatial Anchors.
WWZ is one of the largest energy and telecommunications providers in Central Switzerland and operates its own innovation laboratory, allthisfuture. The core of allthisfuture’s work is the development of new business ideas. Which is why allthisfuture seeks to exchange ideas about new technologies and focuses on their potential using concrete examples.
The showcase with allthisfuture puts the possibilities of mixed reality and Azure Spatial Anchors in the foreground. Spatial anchors enable developers to program cross-platform mixed reality applications in a spatial context. Spatial anchors can be permanently created in real environments and supplemented with digital content. This allows for important locations to be mapped and assigned to the real world, where they can then be retrieved by HoloLens, iOS, and Android devices. Examples of spatial anchors applications include guidance systems or virtual info tables that provide better understanding because they can be set on the spot and at the right moment. Using spatial anchors, the same holograms can be displayed on various devices and thus accelerate team or customer decision making, because, for example, all participants can view a testing scenario for an architecture design together. There are very interesting possibilities for training or design. Designs or objects can be permanently anchored in the space and viewed again and again at any time using the data glasses such as HoloLens or on a smartphone or tablet. This means that designs, intermediate stages, and new results can be documented with ease.
The spatial anchors were a cause for excitement during the internal presentation. “Spatial anchors provide a good basis for developing location-specific applications with AR”, said Remo Müller, Head of Business Innovation & CEO of all this future.
Most of all, this AR experience showed allthisfuture where this technology stands today and in which areas applications are possible. Azure spatial anchors and mixed reality have the potential to support new business models.
“The collaboration with Augment IT by Netcetera provided us with tangible inspiration, enabling us to captivate our customers with services and real utility tomorrow and beyond.”
Remo Müller
Head of Business Innovation, CEO
allthisfuture
Casevideo
In the current, custom AR experience, we visualized various energy topics together with allthisfuture. Watch the video yourself and see how spatial anchors work.
The first anchor provides information about the company allthisfuture and the areas in which it works. A second anchor delivers important details and background information about the various products of WWZ, such as power or telecommunications. A third anchor displays the possibilities of dynamically changing information such as the interior and exterior weather and temperature. A fourth anchor shows how devices and machines can be linked to one another. An anchor can both show information about the device type but also report defects or display the user manual. Here is where the importance of permanently set anchors is clear. Who hasn’t looked for the operating instructions for their oven or washing machine, tirelessly tried to find the device type, and called the helpline when a malfunction occurs? Information that never disappears, is always available, that takes up no space and collects zero dust, that is the information that helps us find solutions quickly in our everyday lives.
“Our AR experience is fun, shows off the technological possibilities of Azure Spatial Anchors, and was delivered on time and on budget.”
Remo Müller
Head of Business Innovation, CEO
allthisfuture
