The Record - Issue 21: Summer 2021

50 www. t e c h n o l o g y r e c o r d . c om T he dramatic shift to increased remote working triggered by the pandemic poses a real problem for those industries that carry out complex projects which rely heavily on the use of 3D data, such as the construction, engi- neering and manufacturing sectors. Sharing this data via 2D screens does not allow it to be examined in the same detail, which can hamper communication and consensus build- ing and ultimately becomes the main source of delays in complex projects. Virtual and augmented reality (XR) solu- tions offer a potential solution to this problem, as they allow teams to work directly with 3D data and collaborate more effectively. However, cutting-edge XR solutions can be difficult to use for all but the largest organisations. Without an in-house development team and the significant investment that represents, it remains a purely R&D concern rather than having a meaningful impact on the wider organisation. To democratise access to XR technology, an easier, more manageable solution is necessary. Fracture Reality’s JoinXR is a 3D-first collabora- tion platform that leverages Microsoft HoloLens and Azure Services to put mission-critical 3D data at the centre of meetings. It replaces video chat and screen-sharing with lifelike avatars and interactive holograms and can work directly with industrial CAD and BIM data, without any need for costly optimisation or conversion. JoinXR offers turnkey access to Azure services for enterprise 3D data, including Azure Remote Rendering. Operating on its own, HoloLens encounters a bottleneck when displaying data at about 250,000 polygons. Beyond this, your expe- rience will degrade dramatically. Enterprise 3D data typically starts in the millions of polygons, so another approach is required. Remote Rendering uses the computing power of Azure to render highly complex models of up to hundreds of millions of polygons in the cloud and stream them in real time to your HoloLens device, enabling users to interact with their 3D content in the detail they require. With JoinXR, organisations can start using this service in streamlined, multi-user meetings with no prior technical setup, with a fast turnaround. This easy-to-use package streamlines the use of XR technology, allowing organisations to save time and money in its implementation. And once in place, it can deliver a range of ben- efits to meeting communication. By bringing everyone into a single 3D meeting space, the limitations of screen sharing no longer apply. The experience of being present in a blended physical/virtual space lets you maintain stronger bonds between remote teams around the world without the need for expensive and environmentally damaging travel. Immersive collaboration The JoinXR platform offers a streamlined augmented reality solution that can help generate meaningful insights and discussions about complex 3D data ROB M I NSON : F RAC TUR E R E A L I T Y V I EWPO I NT “To democratise access to XR technology, an easier, more manageable solution is necessary”