How does spatial computing work?
There’s nothing new about frontline workers relying on digital information to complete real-life tasks. Take the example of a technician who needs information on replacing a machine component. Under the legacy, ‘non-spatial’ way of working with computers, that technician steps away from the task in hand, powers up their laptop, finds the relevant instructions, takes a good look at the info, and then (hopefully!) uses what they’ve read to get on with the job.
With this classic model, digital information is static and decontextualized. It’s essentially confined to the user’s screen, totally separate from the real-world situation they have to deal with. It’s up to the worker to translate that data correctly into reality. When you’re dealing with a particularly complex, unfamiliar job or lots of tasks in quick succession—the risk of error or misinterpretation is all too real.