Are you up for AR?

WITH Industrial Revolution 4.0 ( IR 4.0) rapidly starting to change how we work, it’s important for us, especially the young people, to equip ourselves with the relevant skills and knowledge.

For instance, you should learn more about Augmented Reality (AR) technology, as it’s said to be one of the biggest emerging technologies with tremendous opportunities.

As AR is still relatively new, especially in Sarawak, some of you might be thinking if there are any reallife uses for the technology.

Here are some that we found out about:

Enhancing an experience AR is slowly becoming popular among locals, especially in enhancing their ‘ life experiences’. In other words, AR is fun!

For instance, it was reported that Unimas is currently developing AR and virtual reality ( VR) of Sarawak’s tourism hotspots.

Not only that, the introduction of these technologies is paving the way for local innovators to delve into various industries such as healthcare, sports, and gaming.

Enhancing customer service Ever played Pokémon Go? That wildly popular game showed that the gaming industry is probably where the majority of people will find the most relevant use for AR technology.

Apart from that, AR could also enhance the ‘customer experience’, as well.

For example, AR applications could create an integrated 3D image of a product to help customers decide on their purchases.

In the healthcare industry, doctors could also use AR applications to help them better communicate with their patients on complex medical procedures.

Upskilling the workforce In the age of IR 4.0, it has been said that many workers will lose their jobs due to increasing automation.

However, AR has the potential to help transition displaced workers by enabling them to perform a variety of tasks that they have no experience in.

For example, AR could provide workers with digital manuals complete with 3D renderings that can be imposed onto the objects they are working on by following step- by- step instructions.

While AR may not provide a permanent solution to unemployment, it can ease the transition of displaced workers as they move from one type of job to another while at the same time acquiring new knowledge and skills.

Applying interactive learning material The application of AR is also useful in the education sector where it could be used as a visual representation to engage students in understanding the learning material. Plus, it looks like a lot of fun for the students.

On a more serious note, medical students can use AR technology to practice their surgical techniques, which could go a long way in effectively training our doctors of the future.

This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang ( Azam) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.