Here’s a look at what enterprises can learn from Verizon’s efforts to bring augmented reality and 360-degree video to technician training in New York City.
Video: How Verizon uses AR to train FiOS technicians in NYC
Verizon is deploying augmented reality technology to train its FiOS technicians in the field and create what equates to a newfangled knowledge transfer system.
See also: VR and AR: The Business Reality
The approach by the telecom giant provides some insight into how enterprises are using AR for real-world use cases such as training.
While AR and virtual reality are technologies in flux, the big lesson from Verizon’s deployment is that content matters more than the technology. Yes, Verizon is using Oculus for training, but the primary effort revolves around 360-degree video and using AR to deliver content to technicians in the field.
Joseph Beasley, vice president of field operations in New York City, is overseeing the AR training rollout for 4,600 technicians, and the plan is to scale it across the company. Beasley said the goals for the project are to do the following:
New York City provides an interesting training test bed for Verizon’s FiOS unit. In the boroughs, technicians may have to climb poles. In Manhattan, technicians may be working underground in manholes, installing in new construction and toggling between fiber optic and copper. “The goal is to store data and content and have it available,” he said.
Read also: VR and AR smart glasses? Businesses still can’t see the point
Verizon’s AR training efforts have only been up and running for a few weeks, but the company is already gaining a few insights worth passing along. Here’s a look at a few key lessons:
The Monday Morning Opener is our opening salvo for the week in tech. Since we run a global site, this editorial publishes on Monday at 8:00am AEST in Sydney, Australia, which is 6:00pm Eastern Time on Sunday in the US. It is written by a member of ZDNet’s global editorial board, which is comprised of our lead editors across Asia, Australia, Europe, and the US.
