The Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) Podcast

The Future is Generative: Reimagining Innovation and Intelligence Towards 2040

In this episode, OMG Chairman & CEO Bill Hoffman chats with Gan Wang, VP Systems Engineering Ecosystem, at Dassault Systèmes. Gan walks through his organization's vision for the Generative Economy, a technology roadmap for a 3D universe to be realized by 2040. The universe will combine modeling and simulation techniques based on real world evidence and data with AI-generated content.
Gan explains that in this Industrial Metaverse, AI will digest large amounts of data and synthesize the highlights across vertical markets. The early capabilities are already emerging in test environments, in industries such as mobility, infrastructure, and healthcare.  Gan describes the two pillars of AI services in development at Dassault, including experiences generated by AI and virtual companions, AI based agents that assist professionals in their daily work. He also encourages technologists to get involved in consortium work, citing the influence of standards such as SysML v2 on industrial applications.
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A Winning Playbook for Enterprise AR: Challenges, Use Cases & Outcomes

In this edition, AREA Executive Director Mark Sage chats with Ryan Orwoll, VP Product Management of the Vuforia Enterprise AR Group at PTC.
Ryan breaks down how enterprises are turning augmented reality (AR) into real business wins, despite ongoing challenges such as integration complexity and change management.
The conversation dives into high-impact use cases across manufacturing, field service, and training, showing where AR is driving efficiency, accuracy, and ROI. Please visit thearea.org.

Insights from the XR-5G Frontier

In this edition, AREA Executive Director Mark Sage chats with Alex Taylor, CEO of Net4. They discuss how Net4 is enabling XR use cases across industries by partnering with 5G providers to deliver secure, low-latency solutions over both public and private networks.
Despite the clear benefits of combining XR and 5G-like improved performance and immersive experiences, widespread deployment is lagging due to coverage gaps, device limitations, and integration challenges. Please visit thearea.org.

Insights for Finding the Value in AR/XR

In this episode, AREA Executive Director Mark Sage chats with AR/XR expert Dr. Brent Dingle, Applied Research Engineer and Consultant at Raytheon, an RTX Company.
Brent describes how the XR work of his team is helping to drive Raytheon's vision. He talks about lessons he's learned to overcome challenges in AR implementations, such as how to successfully incorporate change.
Brent discusses insights he has gained over time, such as the patience required to find the value in AR, and offers advice to organizations launching their initial AR efforts. Please visit thearea.org.

Research & Education: Inside the Augmented Reality Center (ARC)

In this episode, the AREA's Mark Sage chats with Deborah Kiefer of the School Engineering & Computer Science, at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. They discuss the university's AR Center (ARC), where Deborah is the Project Manager. ARC focuses on research, education, and best practices in AR in business.Topics include:
- The origins and mission of the ARC, and  the synergy between ARC and AREA.- Identifying new capabilities for AR, and weaving those into business strategies.- Trends and challenges that ARC has found in AR adoption, and recommendations for overcoming those challenges through education and training.  
Please visit thearea.org.

Using AR to Train First Responders About Nuclear Hazards

In this episode, the AREA's Mark Sage chats with Ashley Stowe, Director of the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center, a uranium enrichment manufacturing facility that provides AR training for first responders dealing with emergencies featuring nuclear and other highly hazardous materials. They discuss: 
- Effective immersive training for dangerous environments- Challenges of moving from AR demo to deployment- Difficulties building manageable enterprise AR solutions- Advice for organizations looking into enterprise AR
Please visit thearea.org. Meet the Oak Ridge AR and AREA teams at the 3rd Annual ORETTC XR Symposium, April 22-23 in Oak Ridge, TN. Visit our website for complete information on this event. 

Challenges and Benefits of XR in Defense Manufacturing & Training

MBDA's Salvatore Errico, Industrial Digital Engineer, and Greg White, Design Tools Capability Lead, discuss AR/XR use cases in defense manufacturing and training. They examine the most important and impactful outcomes of XR deployment, including:
- Alignment with operational goals
- Workflow transformation
- Measurable benefits, such as efficiency and safety improvements
- The biggest challenges in implementing XR solutions
Please visit thearea.org.

XR Security Considerations and the AREA

How can enterprises address unique vulnerabilities introduced by XR devices, while ensuring compliance with their existing IT security frameworks? How can they benefit from engaging with the AREA Security Committee initiatives?
James Cooper,  Chief Technologist, Advanced Visualization at Raytheon (an RTX Company), and Chair of the AREA Security Committee, answers these and other questions about bringing AR/XR into the enterprise. Please visit thearea.org.

Top AR Trends for 2024: Privacy

Christine Perey, AREA Founder, chats with Jameson Spivack, Senior Policy Analyst at the Future of Privacy Forum about the privacy challenges in enterprise AR.
AI and computer vision advancements could address concerns over privacy in data collection and handling. Privacy and sensitivity to security risks from the use of cameras and other sensors in the workplace continue to be obstacles to large-scale AR deployments. 
Privacy is the #4 trend in Christine's Top 12 blog: "Top 2024 Enterprise AR Trends to Watch." Read it here: https://thearea.org/top-2024-enterprise-ar-trends-to-watch/
 

Top AR Trends for 2024: Sensors

Christine Perey, AREA Founder, chats with VoxelSensors' Johannes Peeters, CEO, and Boris Greenberg, VP of XR Solutions about current trends in Sensors.
Sensors are examined in the Hardware section of Christine's Top 12 blog: "Top 2024 Enterprise AR Trends to Watch." Read it here: https://thearea.org/top-2024-enterprise-ar-trends-to-watch/
Sensors is the #4 trend.