Not quite Iron Man yet – tomorrow’s office desk

Die Augmented-Reality-Hololens von Microsoft hat dank des Startups 8ninths jetzt ein sehr überzeugendes Anwendungsfeld: Die Firma baut für die Citigroup an einer holographischen Arbeitsumgebung für den Finanzsektor – anhand eines realen Schreibtischs. Source: Augmented Reality am Arbeitsplatz: So sieht der Schreibtisch der Zukunft aus | t3n (Grafik: 8ninths.com)

As unbelievable it may seem at first.

Start up company 8ninths has come up with a holographic desk environment for Citigroup.

I usually view all things virtual or augmented reality with a pinch of scepticism, suspicion and cynicism – but this seems all right.

In fact, I would jump at the chance to test drive one of these things.

Although, to me, the gear still seems a little 80s A-Team and not so NCSI, but hey – who’s arguing, right?

Source: http://t3n.de/news/augmented-reality-arbeitsplatz-693586/?utm_content=buffer6ba29&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer (Grafik: 8ninths.com)

But of course, they’re not alone in trying to figure this stuff out.

Google has invested in Envelop VR to get there.

And another take on what augmented reality could be in the office environment is being offered by Magic Leap.
Magic Leap Demo.

Personally, not my thing but it is a matter of taste perhaps. Design Wise it seems to set us back.

By now I like things to be less rather than more.

Don’t wiggle around, don’t look embossed – sort of thing. You might as well give me another mouse-roll over Photoshop button, remember those?

 

But of course, it is nothing like that. And I am sure that the design – once these things become mainstream – will be fine.

Can hardly be uglier than some of those bespoke software user interfaces we had to work with in the past, right?

And if it works, who cares.

But overall?

Do I find this strange? Yes, I do.

 

What’s the actual value to the average office environment?

And don’t we just ask for more Burnout and skewed sense of reality?

Ever worked with a Psycho? Yeah, me too – I don’t need him/her hooked up with VR or AR to spice things up even more. No thanks.

On the other hand, it does come in handy when you want to beat the crap out of each other in a virtual paintballing session or other during lunch break I suppose…

 

But joking aside.

I can see the application being highly probable for the Defence Sector. Some of the new VR equipped helmets can set you back quite a bit though, and it is all still very new.

Teaching, being another good application. And the field of Medicine being a prime candidate for early adoption and integration in day-to-day procedures.

Apparently Retail and Logistics are going to go all out for this, mapping the store/warehouse environment for the quickest route, including special offers and prices, or throwing up other value adding pieces of information.

But the natural habitat of a SME? Not so sure.

 

Your future line manager – the ideal. Half man, half machine. Stop the pfaffing about…I can see you…

The (augmented) reality though…your typical laid-back Argos-like manager – or worse perhaps, Sainsbury’s headset wearing check out assistant, chatting away, looking busy but doing not much at all for the customer. Gulp.

Also Read: http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Augmented-reality-business-applications-start-to-get-real

 

 

BHS – Old Maid in need of Makeover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The creditors of BHS are due to vote on a deal that will determine the High Street retailer’s future. Source: BHS faces crucial vote on its future – BBC News

Today’s news on BHS did not surprise me one bit. Every time I dared to enter the store I was surprised by its outdated layouts and vibe. I felt like I had stepped through a time portal, transported back in time – so last century, so before the Internet.

Nothing in the store suggests the visually appealing world we currently live in. The BHS retail outlets are stuck in the olden days. It harks back to a time when one had to be grateful to have found a store which stocks an array of goods. The problem is, going into BHS, I feel about 150 years old! Everything the modern housewife may need, for herself or her husband and children?

 

Over the years, I have been in a few BHS stores in different locations and they never looked as good as the one in the picture above. I remember the silence and solitude. I remember awkwardly stocked aisles, seemingly random and disconnected. Not sure why anyone would consider buying towels, next to lamp shades, next to novelty baking kits, next to teapots. I remember the worn couches with holes in them. And I remember Polyester in all shapes and forms and colours.

Nothing in the BHS stores that I visited made me feel great about being there. Nothing in the store suggested the people working there love being there. Nobody is going anywhere anymore.

We have stopped taking risks.
We’re not growing spiritually with our customers.
We’re not looking at what’s current – we’re not making it our own.
We’re waiting for the end…well – seems you all got your wish then. Success. Or not!

And I want to ask them, when they stopped caring, when they gave up? When did this become good enough?

Become aspirational on a budget! Make shopping fun and interesting. Be cool. Be current. Make me dream. Marks and Spencers got the right idea in the end, H&M, TK Maxx, Topshop…when was the last time you looked around and found yourself in this wondrous universe that is retail fashion? Now is the time BHS! C’mon…

Window displays are ultimately one of the most important parts of drawing people into your business. Source: window displays

Diego Zuko turns his lens on the ladies in London. Source: Best London Fashion Week Street Style Spring 2016 – London Street Style