Ayushi Mahajan – Christ King Girls Secondary School, Cork
Hi, my name is Ayushi, and I’m a student at Christ King Girls’ Secondary School, Cork.
I initially signed up for the CONFIRM TY Week, to gain a better understanding of careers in STEM, but I’ve learned so much more than just that. My favourite part of the week was learning about 3D printing, and how many different types of machines and materials there are. I was aware that it could take a long time, but I found out about the materials that could be used resulting in products almost as durable as steel.
My poster topic was “How is augmented and virtual reality used in the manufacturing industry?“. To summarise, Augmented Reality lets us see our surroundings with a digital augmentation overlaid on them. An example of this would be the game Pokemon Go. Meanwhile, Virtual Reality is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are two sides of the same coin. You could think of Augmented Reality as VR with one foot in the real world: Augmented Reality simulates artificial objects in the real environment; Virtual Reality creates an artificial environment to inhabit. AR and VR technology can be incorporated into manufacturing to make the process as efficient as possible. For example. AR allows maintenance crews to see exactly which machines and equipment require servicing at a glance by using an AR device to see product data and history
In a study conducted, with young people interested in STEM, it was found that 62% have used and/or are familiar with VR technology. It is becoming a bigger and bigger part of our lives, and even though many manufacturing companies are hesitant to adopt it, it shows promise and has success stories in companies such as Ford and Lockheed Martin.
