Real and Virtual Continue to Merge in Manufacturing

As manufacturers increasingly seek to integrate cutting-edge digital technology into their existing production operations, the lines between the real and the virtual have blurred together. Manufacturers now have the ability to blend virtualized elements into real-world environments, offering the potential for improved training regimens, expedited or remote service and support, and the standardization and optimization of machining processes.

Three current forms of virtual technologies can be found in manufacturing today: virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). The difference between the three is one of user experience. VR is completely immersive and replaces a real-world environment with a virtual one. AR alters a person’s perception of the real world with enhanced computer-generated objects. And in MR, virtual objects are connected to real-world physical objects for a blended approach. While each virtual technology is different, all three provide the same benefits in terms of safety, convenience, cost effectiveness and practicality for those in the manufacturing world.

Find out how Mazak is pushing AR, VR and MR forward – and transforming training and customer service as we know it – in our white paper, Real and Virtual Continue to Merge in Manufacturing.