Augmented Reality Goggles Make Marine Mechanics More Efficient

New augmented reality goggles are helping Marine mechanics
perform maintenance on vehicles in about half the usual time.
The futuristic headgear displays precise instructions on top
of real-world settings, and shows how to complete certain
tasks, such as wiring up an ignition coil.

Similar augmented reality (AR) devices have already helped
astronauts carry out repairs on the International Space
Station, and could aid civilians tinkering with their BMWs in
the home garage. But the new goggles developed by Columbia
University researchers provide solid proof of how the devices
can improve human performance.

A test with six Marine mechanics found that they performed up
to 46 percent faster on making repairs to a light armored
vehicle when using the AR goggles, according to Technology
Review. The jarheads typically rely upon technical manuals
displayed on laptops.

Besides the heads-up display, the AR system uses text
instructions, floating labels, arrows and even 3-D models of
tools needed for various tasks. An Android smartphone
provides the wrist interface for cueing up new instructions.

We're looking forward to seeing this and other AR devices
seep into both military and civilian life in ever greater
numbers. An MIT augmented reality device previously won one
of PopSci's Inventions Awards, showing the possibilities of
interfacing online information with the real world.