Remote assistance and collaboration software enhanced with augmented reality can make both clients’ and assistants’ lives easier. In the video demo that follows, we’ll show you how combining AR and WebRTC can enable peer-to-peer communication and interaction that goes beyond 2D video calling.
Kindly take note that the video presentation showcasing augmented reality for remote assistance is not a fully developed product. It serves as a demonstration of its capabilities and can be utilized as a starting point for creating custom software tailored to your project requirements.
Augmented Reality Remote Assistance in Action
Video chat technology has revolutionized the efficiency of remote assistance. However, unlike face-to-face tech support, video chat lacks interactivity and hands-on assistance. Augmented reality helps bridge that gap by providing more opportunities for remote engagement. Professionals connecting from a home office can assist users by visually guiding the client to particular parts of what they’re working on in 3D space.
For example, an equipment operator at a factory requests assistance from a field technician. If they are unable to visit in person or if they need more information before making the trip out to the factory, the field technician calls the equipment operator. The field technician can use AR to point out parts of the machine that the operator is working on in 3D space. This can help them discuss the problem in more detail. As a result, they can engage on a higher level and figure out what to do next to solve the problem.
To achieve the results of this demo, WebRTC is used to facilitate peer-to-peer communication. With most smartphones being capable of basic AR features, this demo can be achieved with a wide variety of mobile hardware.
Implementing Remote Assistance with AR
The demo seen above is based on three main technologies:
- WebRTC: enables real-time two-way P2P communication.
- ARKit (or ARCore, as seen in the video).
- Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android) to write the app.
The only limitation that this solution faces is that the augmented scene must be static. This application wouldn’t be suitable for something like a moving vehicle.
Adding More Features
It’s possible to add other features to a final product based on this demonstration. For example, these features might aid in remote assistance applications with AR:
- Virtual pointer: an assistant might draw a pointer on the shared video feed to show the client what part of the machine or equipment needs to be repaired.
- Zoom: the remote technician can zoom in on objects in view to see them better. They might also use this to help the client focus on a particular area.
- Freeze & Screenshot: technicians and clients may benefit from being able to take screenshots or freeze parts of the live video feed for later analysis.
- AR Annotations: this would allow the assistant to draw 3D markings on the screen to help identify or instruct the client on troubleshooting a problem.
- Share Image and Screen: the client or assistant could share their phone or computer screen, as well as other images, to help supplement the troubleshooting process.
- Record: being able to record remote assistance sessions can help improve the quality of service and train professionals on how to provide better service.
These are just some of the possible features that a remote AR assistance application could incorporate. Depending on your business needs there may be other possible functionality improvements that could benefit your business.
What it Takes to Build an AR Remote Assistance App
On the technical side of things, the most fundamental parts of an AR remote assistance app are real-time communication, augmented reality frameworks, and the structure of the app itself. However, the quality and vision of the development process will ultimately determine the quality and effectiveness of the final product.
The AR component of the app adds interactivity. However, how you implement this interactivity will depend on the platform the app is running on. If you plan to target both iOS and Android devices, you will need to take into account how development will work across both platforms. Cross-platform solutions still have significant drawbacks for most AR use cases. So we recommend opting for native iOS or Android app development while being careful to ensure their interoperability. In other words, letting your users call from iOS to Android and vice versa even though they use different AR SDKs.
It’s also essential for business and startup leaders to understand how AR remote assistance apps could be incorporated into their existing business structure and what integrations they may need. Finding opportunities to connect an app with your customer relationship management (CRM) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can be critical to your success. This will enable you to transfer data seamlessly. As a result, your remote assistants will be able to access relevant information about the user’s needs and preferences when they need it.
Alternatives
It’s also worth considering some alternatives to the remote assistance approach. For example, you might consider an AR-powered manual to help instruct users on how to operate or troubleshoot machinery.
See more video demos by checking out our
Augmented Reality Demo Collection by MobiDevWhy Choose MobiDev for AR-based Remote Assistance App Development
Creating an AR remote assistance application requires a range of skills, such as programming, UI/UX design, and AR development expertise. Having these skills or working with an experienced team can ensure the best possible quality for your app. Our augmented reality developers have years of experience in the market and understand what you’re trying to achieve.
MobiDev’s experts know how to overcome the limits of existing AR frameworks to realize your vision. Our team is also experienced in combining AR with advanced AI and ML algorithms to provide more accurate and realistic experiences, improve app performance, and increase customer satisfaction.
When you’re ready to get started with your app, contact us to hit the ground running.
