How to Choose AR Devices | Vuforia Studio |PTC

Develop Your First Vuforia Studio Experience > Task: Compare device options

How to Choose the Right Devices for your AR Use Case

Last Updated: July 24, 2019

Overview

Assembly, operations, and service workers are becoming more productive and accurate thanks to Vuforia Studio. The guidance they need to perform their jobs is now delivered when and where they need it. Determine whether 2D eyewear, 3D eyewear, smart phones, or tablets are the best devices for use in their day-to-day jobs.

Before you begin

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The Vuforia View app empowers users to access, view, and interact with Vuforia Studio AR experiences. Vuforia View is compatible with a variety of devices.

Device Considerations

Each AR experience should be designed with a device type in mind to ensure the best possible user experience. If you support a variety of AR devices (smartphones and 3D eyewear, for example), you will design multiple device-specific iterations of your AR experiences that each provide the appropriate user interface interactions for that device.

There are a number of factors you should consider when choosing devices for your workers:

Is it important for the workers viewing AR experiences to have their hands free?
- One key advantage to delivering instructions with augmented reality—as opposed to paper-based instructions—is that the workers’ hands are free to perform the task. For this reason, we recommend investing in eyewear devices for your AR use case.
Are there safety or compliance requirements for electronics in your work environment?
Where will workers be accessing and using AR experiences? Are the environments cramped or poorly lit?
Is it important for workers to be immersed in their environment?

Compatible Devices

Vuforia View is compatible with:

3D eyewear devices
2D eyewear devices
Mobile devices

Review compatible devices

3D Eyewear Devices

Benefits:

Delivers Vuforia Studio AR experiences, hands free
AR experiences render in three dimensions and feel immersive
The wearer uses hand gestures or voice commands to control the device
Workers can comfortably use the device while wearing helmets, safety glasses, and eyeglasses

Drawbacks:

Not optimal for use in dark environments or cramped spaces
Devices may not be “intrinsically safe” for use in explosive environments: Review the health and safety information to ensure it’s safe to use in your environment

2D Eyewear

Benefits:

Delivers Vuforia Studio AR experiences, hands free
Displays information adjacent to the wearer’s field of view: doesn’t block the environment
Longer battery life and more lightweight
Drop proof and waterproof
Workers can comfortably use the device while wearing helmets, hats, safety glasses, and eyeglasses

Drawbacks:

Displays information in two dimensions: not as immersive as 3D eyewear devices
Operated using voice commands only (no gestures)
Not compatible with animations/sequences
May not be intrinsically safe for use in explosive environments: Review the health and safety information to ensure it’s safe to use in your environment

Mobile Devices

Benefits:

Get up and running using the hardware you already have
Reduced training needs for frontline workers

Drawbacks:

Workers’ hands are occupied, making it more difficult to focus on instructions and task at hand, simultaneously

While each device has definite benefits and drawbacks, personal preference may also guide your decision. If your organization is having difficulty choosing the right hardware for your AR use case, try using Vuforia View on 2D eyewear, 3D eyewear, and a mobile device; then decide.

How Many Devices Will I Need?

The quantity of devices you need will depend on a number of factors:

Will your organization conduct a “pilot” with a small number of workers, to start?
What’s your device management strategy? Will workers each have their own device, or will they check them out for use?
How long is an average shift? How many workers on a shift?

Depending on your AR use case, you may need only a handful of devices to start seeing value.

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