Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

and developers can effectively assess educational institutions in providing results of cosmetic surgery such as facial
whether urban planning models would innovative and effective learning, reconstruction, giving both the patient and
fit the existing infrastructure, and have overcoming the typical space and time the doctor the ability to see the results
a better understanding of what to build constraints of urban cities as well as the before the operation. Moreover, VR’s ability
and where. Additionally, VR could also potential risks associated with learning to reproduce real life environments can be
involve stakeholders such as residents or directly from real life situations. With the quite helpful in the treatment of mental
investors in the decision-making process, capacity to recreate real life experiences health illnesses such as Post Traumatic
giving them an opportunity to provide with a high level of detail, AR and VR could Stress Disorder.
feedback as to how cities could be better revolutionize training for students and
transformed and developed. For example, professionals in many fields, for example, Adequate levels of
in 2016, MIT collaborated with the City performance support in critical positions
of Hamburg to model potential locations such as medical surgery or heavy safety and privacy/
for refugee accommodations. Using machinery operation. Additionally, AR security must also be
optically-tagged LEGO bricks, simulation and VR will anyways enhance traditional critical considerations
algorithms, and AR to model potential learning with real time updated interactive
locations for refugee accommodation, content and exercises across the board. into the strategy and
local leaders and community members implementation for AR/VR
participated in this process, identifying Culture & tourism: AR can also transform
160 potential locations and finally building the experience of visitors to a Smart City. use cases.
10, successfully avoiding social opposition Solutions such as AR real time translators
that these kinds of projects typically entail. or AR-enhanced visits to key tourist While it is evident that significant value
attractions providing additional historical/ can be created by deployment of the above
Emergency management & policing: cultural information to landmarks, can be indicated use cases, a collaborative and
Equipment and gadgets enhanced with leveraged by local businesses to improve cohesive effort is required across multiple
AR technology can provide relevant customer experience and promote their stakeholders at the city level including
information on the environment, improving services. In France, local entrepreneurs governmental entities, corporates and
the decision-making of police and supported by the French Ministry of Culture local user communities, in order to ensure
emergency teams in critical situations. and Communication have developed effective implementation of the use
For example, AR could allow having Culture Click, a mobile app that uses AR cases. Additionally, while the technology
access to 3D models of locations where to discover geolocated works of art in high to enable most of the above is already
an emergency is occurring, or provide definition, to access French museums’ available, it is imperative that each city
information of previous or simultaneous information and to discover cultural events prioritizes use cases specific to its unique
events in real time. In addition, AR combined across cities. context and requirement, to optimize on
with object recognition, particularly face the cost of as well as on the value realized
recognition, can help authorities to identify Navigation: Navigation apps are already from such deployment. Adequate levels of
suspicious behavior and prevent crimes a tool of prime importance for urban safety and privacy/ security must also be
in their early stages. As futuristic as this commuters, recommending optimized critical considerations into the strategy
may seem, Beijing-based AR company routes and real time information about and implementation for AR/VR use cases.
Xloong has created Smart glasses already traffic events. However, current solutions As with any other connected technology,
used by the Chinese police, giving them are frequently unclear and inconvenient AR is vulnerable to security threats and
access to real time facial, identification especially for drivers. Creating an AR layer unauthorized access by hacker attacks
card and vehicle plate information that for navigation that adds relevant content and malware. These attacks can result
are linked with a national database. In on top of the image captured by the camera in a denial of service or overlay of wrong
addition, VR can immerse police officers of a smartphone, can significantly improve information, potentially even leading
into virtual training experiences, placing user experience and overall journey safety. to severe, catastrophic consequences.
them into threat situations in a secure In August 2019, Google Maps launched Devising ways to preserve personal
simulated environment. Exposing them an AR mode for iOS and Android with new privacy with mass propagation of AR
to real life high-stakes situations and capabilities to its popular Navigation app. will also be a challenge required to be
allowing them to deal with these in a Medical services: In addition to constantly addressed. Successful overcoming the
controlled environment enhances officer enhancing the standard of living, Smart above challenges on an ongoing basis, as
effectiveness during actual crises. Without Cities also focus on improving individual more and more innovative/ encompassing
VR, providing such real life trainings would mental health and overall well-being. use cases emerge, Smart Cities would be
be both expensive and time-consuming. AR applied to the healthcare sector can able to realize the immense value that AR/
improve therapeutic methods as well VR technologies can unlock for everyone.
Education & training: VR is ideally as reduce customer discomfort. The
positioned to support enterprises and technology can be used to evaluate the

87 NOVEMBER 2019