Appliance manufacturer Gorenje has revealed it is harnessing the power of augmented reality (AR) in its R&D process.
Using Microsoft’s HoloLens, Gorenje has been digitally creating products before physically producing them, which it said had reduced the amount of time and money wasted on manipulating materials.
The company said that it would continue to use the technology to create more advanced and efficient products.
Matej Kebrič, industrial designer and mechanical engineer at Gorenje Group R&D competence centre, said: “HoloLens lets us add different elements, search for the perfect interior layout, play with different shapes, colours and dimensions, test more complex designs and analyse them at every step from multiple viewing points at the flick of a wrist.
“The technology also enables remote teams to join in for a more collaborative process. By using hand gestures, gazes, vocal instructions, or using a wireless remote control, teams can work together to carry out an entire development project from an idea to production.”
The virtual and augmented reality market is estimated to be worth 15 times what it was in 2016 and is valued at around $28.3 billion (£21.8bn).
Gorenje said it also planned to use AR to showcase more of its products to customers, where they would even be able to customise their specifications while viewing it digitally.