Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) companies have been disrupting multiple sectors of business over the last few years, playing a role in a variety of processes within training and remote working, as well as on-site operations. The ability of AR and VR to present new scenarios to users in an immersive but safe way has managed to help develop skills and improve decision-making, ushering in an array of business cases.
With this in mind, we take a look at 10 innovative AR and VR companies to watch this year, from a variety of sectors.
Bricks and Goggles
Based in the construction space, Bricks and Goggles is a company that looks to transform building designs into 3D VR environments, allowing for added visibility for finding possible flaws.
In terms of design application, its service is compatible with RHINO, SketchUp, ArchiCad and Revit, and the company offers the choice of Oculus or HTC Vive VR solutions.
Fracture Reality
Microsoft partner Fracture Reality is the company behind an online meeting and collaboration platform for engineering and data-intensive enterprise users, called JoinXR. The platform leverages cloud rendering to help users participate in holographic meetings, and deliver presentations.
The company’s services include application development for Hololens 2, and digital twin interfaces for mixed reality and traditional PCs.
Holosphere VR
Immersive reality company Holosphere VR aims to make a positive global impact using virtual reality, augmented reality and spatial 3D projection. In particular, the company focuses on ‘Room Scale VR’, where the user can physically move about whilst immersed, ‘3D Projection Mapping’, spatial augmented reality that aids presentations, and 360 degree VR video.
Services provided are compatible with Oculus, Vive, Samsung Gear VR and Unreal Engine.
INVELON Technologies
INVELON Technologies specialises in developing bespoke VR, AR, and mixed reality software for clients in the healthcare, education, marketing, industry 4.0 and architecture sectors. Services provided by the company include prototype testing and analysis, provided by its Aurora VR solution, and training capsules for job skill improvement.
INVELON currently has equipment distribution partnerships with HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Oculus, Pico, PTC and Vive.
Juju
VR architecture provider Juju creates ‘cinematic quality’ immersive content for head mounted displays (HMDs), with distribution providers including Oculus Rift, HTV Vive and Samsung Gear. Focused on the real estate, architectural and marine sectors, the company facilitates turn-key presentations for marketing high-value products such as marine vessels and airplanes.
Juju’s services are contained within a unified sales platform, available via an app, which comes with remote mobile device control.
Magic Leap
Augmented platform Magic Leap work in the health, manufacturing, and defence and public sectors to enhance productivity across the workforce. Available services include digital training documentation and real-time remote assistance across the organisation.
Solutions provided by Magic Leap include EON-XR Platform by EON Reality, for 3D training visualisation, and manufacturing-focused Vuforia Engine by PTC, and Manifest by Taqtile.
Slanted Theory
Slanted Theory provides VR and AR technology to help users visualise data sets in multiple dimensions in a 3D setting. The company is behind the ALAIRA platform, which facilitates cross-team collaboration across time zones in VR.
Aimed at designers, developers, architects and analysts, the platform offers data analysis tools that can be used without the need to code. Currently, Slanted Theory are partnered with A Vision for Women and Virtual Reality (VWVR), Immerse UK, Microsoft Azure, Oculus Business and Unity.
Strivr
Strivr is a VR-powered immersive learning platform for elevating workplace productivity and engagement. Working in the retail, logistics, financial services, manufacturing and technology sectors, the company looks to boost customer service, health and safety and operational efficiency.
Additionally, Strivr offers bespoke professional services, to help clients create clear learning paths to suit the needs of the business.
Talespin
Talespin is a platform that offers skills insights and immersive learning that’s catered to individual career paths. The company offers a content library to allow users to customise their talent development, which can then be deployed via desktop streaming and XR HMDs.
In addition, its no-code content creation tool CoPilot Designer, which is compatible with Oculus Quest and HTC Vive as well as desktop applications, looks to aid conversational learning via virtual role play with “emotionally realistic virtual humans”.
Worldviz
Immersive collaboration solution provider Worldviz looks to bolster showrooms, design reviews, training and research within the academic research, defence, healthcare and manufacturing industries.
Software provided by the company includes Vizard, a unified Python-based software development platform for manufacturing organisations, and low-code collaboration platform Vizible. Worldviz also offers its own in-house headsets, projectors and motion-tracking hardware.
