Published: Dec 03, 2024

Immersive workspaces for the workforce of the future

Throughout the course of human history, work — and by extension, the workplace — has been central to how human beings organise and collaborate to create shared value and shape societal development. The 2020-2022 pandemic years highlighted the critical role of immersive technologies in ensuring operational continuity in workplaces where physical presence was limited or not possible. For example, AR/VR technologies enabled innovative solutions for remote training, helping to bridge knowledge gaps in industrial workplaces and smart manufacturing processes by providing training to unskilled or temporary workers to perform complex maintenance operations.

One industry that is ripe for immersive tech is healthcare, and studies have shown training in AR/VR can improve knowledge retention 2-3x more than traditional learning methods. Training in VR can also be less expensive compared with reserving an actual operating room and using actual tools and equipment as well as medicines and materials.

Johns Hopkins in the United States made medical headlines for using AR in the operating room. Surgeons used AR headsets to perform back surgeries on a living patient. The headsets projected images on the see-through display showing the patient's bones, muscles, and connective tissue from CT scans. The technology brought important and relevant information to the surgeons as needed, and it kept surgeons engaged with the patient throughout the surgery.

Many industries are teeming with opportunities for AR/VR and other advanced technologies to maximise their employees' contribution to the digital economy. Technologies such as AI-enabled digital assistance, enterprise-wide intelligent automation and integration, feature-rich, and interactive immersive environments promise to amplify the potential of tomorrow’s digital enterprises by revolutionising the workplace and the way we work.

This article is part of a series of co-written articles with IDC. The series offers insights into how technologies are not just shaping industries but also redefining the future of work, sustainability, and digital trust.  Importantly, they reflect NCS’ dedication to leveraging them to make tomorrow better for all.