Find new efficiencies with augmented reality for remote support with Kognitiv Spark

Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience that is used to create a virtual world that is similar to the real one. The computer often uses multiple sensory modalities to create that real life-like environment for the user. The visual effects will be heightened and your ears will experience more as the auditory features are sharpened. Now since AR amalgamated with Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating breakthrough developments in all the fields. Augmented reality enhances the entire manufacturing process from improving throughput to accelerating training reducing cost and improving operator performance. AR provides step by step instructions for everything from assembly processes to machine setup change over and maintenance. Real-time visual direction reduces the time spent interpreting instructions, improve productivity and enhance overall worker safety. let’s look at the benefits of using AR in the manufacturing industry. Since 2016, Kognitiv Spark has worked closely with global partners to guide industrial augmented reality solution development, with an emphasis on user-centered development. Led by an executive team with deep expertise in cybersecurity, oil & gas, industrial engineering, and aerospace & defence, Kognitiv Spark delivers robust and integrated solutions that surpass advanced performance and security requirements.

Advent and rise of Kognitiv Spark

Kognitiv Spark was founded by Ryan Groom, an accomplished cybersecurity specialist and gifted developer, and Duncan McSporran, a former military officer who served in various leadership roles in the British Army. When Ryan was first given a HoloLens prototype, as a preferred Microsoft developer, he was inspired to create an impactful technology that could help shape the future of how humans work. As Duncan McSporran and Ryan Groom, the co-founders of Kognitiv Spark cleared their heads on a hike in Scotland and talked about an industrial augmented reality software that could be used to support field workers. McSporran, then in the military, thought it could have the potential for applications in aerospace and defence. Shortly after, CEO Yan Simard was brought aboard. “It was essentially a meeting of the minds where they put together what they thought would work for workers,” said Yan Simard, who became CEO of the company in 2017. Ryan and Duncan met with a senior officer at CFB Gagetown to gauge his interest in augmented reality for repair and maintenance, and to explore potential opportunities. This conversation, in addition to input gathered from private industrial equipment operators and manufacturers, was instrumental in the formation of Kognitiv Spark as we know it today, ultimately leading to the launch of RemoteSpark, the world’s most effective, reliable, and secure industrial augmented reality application for remote support.

The industrial-grade remote support tool

RemoteSpark allows remote workers to establish a low-bandwidth, secure video and audio call with subject matter experts when they need help solving a complex problem. The expert, who can be located anywhere in the world, can then see what the remote worker sees and use holographic assets to support the task, all the while keeping the user heads-up and hands-free. RemoteSpark boasts the lowest internet-bandwidth requirements of any augmented reality communications platform on the market. Ideal for remote locations, a minimum of only 256kbps is required to operate voice & video calls, including 3D holograms, and IoT integrations. Reliable calls can be run while connected to a mobile hotspot. Built to meet and beat the highest security standards, all communications and assets are fully encrypted, end-to-end, in transit and at rest. To meet a wide range of data governance requirements, on-premise cloud computing options are available and can operate fully air-gapped. Experts can drag and drop 3D holograms into the worker’s field of view. These holograms can be animated to show a multi-step process of a specific repair or task, improving comprehension. CAD files (saved as glTF) can be converted into 3D holograms to support a worker’s task comprehension. RemoteSpark can integrate your organization’s live-sensor data and IoT, rendering it on a hologram to inform your field workers of key metrics in real-time. Make complex data meaningful and immediately actionable in the hands of your workers and increase their situational awareness by tying data endpoints to holograms. To facilitate task comprehension, subject matter experts can take photos of the worker’s field of view. These photos can then be annotated on and appear in the remote worker’s field of view as holograms. Experts can also annotate live in the worker’s field of view. Microsoft Office files and PDFs can be brought into the call which also appears in the worker’s real-world environment.

Meet the leader behind the success of Kognitiv Spark

Yan Simard is the CEO of Kognitiv Spark. Yan is a senior IT professional, entrepreneur and investor, with a diverse and successful work experience.  He has designed and led many innovative business ventures through his own start-ups or for others. He also has extensive professional experience with companies such as CGI, Zaptap, Vision Coaching, AIS, Incite Wellness, Bell Canada, Industrial Alliance, NBCC, Gameloft and Irving Oil. Yan has been at the forefront of the development and support of some of Canada’s busiest and most commercially important customer web portals and managed complex projects using blended teams across multiple locations.

“Kognitiv Spark is led by a team with deep expertise in cybersecurity, augmented reality, aerospace and defence, industrial engineering, nuclear energy, process improvement, and change management.”