How Spatial Computing Will Impact Enterprise Training in 2024

We have highlighted many times in the past about how education and training are areas that are ripe for growth through the use of VR and AR, but it seems that spatial computing is going to become the major technological player in the training room. It is likely that in 2024 and beyond, spatial computing will most certainly change the game when it comes to employee and student training. 

In a word, spatial computing is the merging of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, which are together known as XR. Spatial computing integrates the digital and physical realms by bringing these technologies together. What this implies is that workers can get experience in a safe, controlled setting that is quite similar to the real thing.

Tomorrow’s Technology Today 

Spatial computing has already had some positive impact in corporate training, and its advantages are evident. However, as is typical when Apple puts their stamp on things, the term “spatial computing” is redefining things. It enables more engaging and effective training through the use of immersive and interactive learning experiences. Employees are free to learn according to their own way and at their own speed. 

Spatial computing also reduces the requirement for costly hardware and physical infrastructure, which means that training is both more accessible and cheaper. And as technology and the headset hardware that it drives also gets cheaper – as it invariably will – systems will become increasingly available to more people.

Revolution in the Classroom

Pre-technology education was a bit dull.  Rote learning of facts and deep-delves into books has been the staple of education for decades, and training programmes used to be very dependent on static materials like presentations and manuals, but change is on the way. Technology such as spatial computing paves the way for engaging and adaptable educational environments. Workers can now safely practise real-life jobs by interacting with virtual items and manipulating them. Confidence and competence are boosted, and learning outcomes are improved.

The use of technology in the classroom started around ten years ago with the advent of relatively cheap tablet computers and engaging apps to run on them. The launch of the Meta Quest 2 promised lots in terms of educational environments, but the cost of the equipment meant that it wasn’t available as a massed unit. The current crop of VR/MR devices are even more expensive but now that the technology of MR has been well proven and the focus is likely to be on making such devices economically viable for mass use.

The Growth of Spatial Computing

MR is all very well, but it really is only half the story. For education to truly make a leap forward, we need to have a well-developed education package that delivers in a range of different areas.  This is the true promise of spatial computing, and when we have arrived at that, education will become a completely different beast.

There is a steady emergence of new trends and technologies in the field of spatial computing, and it is a field that is seen as being fast evolving. Utilising haptic feedback is one of the most recent developments in the field of spatial computing for the purpose of workplace training. A sense of touch and the ability to engage physically can be gained through the use of haptic feedback in virtual environments. Employees are able to feel and manipulate virtual things thanks to this technology, which enhances the realism and effectiveness of training simulations. Additionally, the emergence of standalone virtual reality headsets is making spatial computing more accessible to the general public now. Because they do not require a computer or any other external tracking equipment, these headsets are more convenient and portable than other options. This paves the way for new opportunities for remote collaboration and training that can be done while on the move.  

Any kind of education relies on equipment that is powerful, capable, but also relatively cheap to purchase and maintain.  Spatial computing system are not quite there yet, but believe that 2024 is going to be a pivotal year for this technology.  The technology is ready and has the ability to help deliver outstanding training. The only problem is the cost and that can be sorted if manufacturers have the will to do it.

Education is today’s hot potato, and if you have an idea for an educational app that you need help with, come and talk to us at Unity Developers.