Balancing Immersion and Simplicity: Unlocking Extended Reality’s Potential for Dynamic Learning in Industries

Extended Reality (XR – comprising virtual and augmented reality) holds promise for dynamic learning, particularly in learning factories and other on-the-job training arrangements. It fits the need for flexible learning materials, e.g. substituting costly or hazardous real life processes. Despite its potential, adoption is still limited in workplace settings and vocational training. Two recent explorative case studies show the obstacles in more detail. These include the costly programming, the low level of software development competencies in SMEs and therefore the hurdle of creating and editing XR applications. Promising solution strategies are also offered. A comparison of XR and paper instructions (first case study) for an industrial assembly task showed that XR enhances work performance but lacks intuitiveness, leading users to rely only on embedded media. This indicates an unbalanced cost-benefit-ratio. More low-threshold (using open-source software programs and already available devices) digital instructions with intuitive XR features (easy to create and use) could bridge experience gaps while benefiting users, SMEs, and trainers with low digital expertise. This need for low-threshold creation and adaptation has been met in a second case study with a digital learning template with XR-features. It facilitates a modular compilation of existing images, videos, 360-degree views and 3-D models. It allows easy realization, manageable also for teachers with limited IT knowledge. In a first test case, trainers and participants rated this approach as very promising.