CHICAGO, IL, Aug 5, 2014 – In Fall 2013, JBKnowledge, a technology consultant and solutions provider to the construction and risk management industries, announced their latest product SmartReality, an augmented reality mobile app for the construction industry. Since its Beta release, SmartReality has been praised around the world as “mind-blowing,” “innovative,” and the “next critical component for construction business development, marketing, and operations.”
Built for both iOS and Android, SmartReality allows builders, developers, project owners, potential clients, and more to point a mobile device at 2D construction plans and view 3D
interactive models of the structure on the screen, resulting in an unprecedented perspective of construction projects.
The latest developments to the application allow for pinch to zoom, a time slider for progressing through phases of a project schedule, and the ability for all users to submit and pay for their own projects. Previously, users were wait listed to be selected to submit projects. With a newly enhanced web portal and electronic payments integrated, users can submit their own targets (2D plans) and models (in accepted file types).
Additionally, during his keynote at the AGC IT Forum on August 1, JBKnowledge President, James Benham announced that the company’s research and development team had created two new hardware use cases for the SmartReality app.
Benham initially demonstrated SmartReality for Oculus Rift with a Leap Motion sensor and xBox 360 controller. By wearing the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and extending their hands in front of the Leap Motion sensor attached to the front of the headset, users can not only view project models through SmartReality, but also ‘walk’ through the structure, open doors, and even hold their hand to a surface to discover the material’s components.
In addition to SmartReality for Oculus, Benham discussed SmartReality for Epson Moverio smart glasses. Moverio glasses benefit users by running the full Android operating system and allowing for a more immersive augmented reality view than heads-up-display hardware like Google Glass. Additionally, Moverio glasses are built for more practical construction uses in the field rather than larger virtual reality headsets.
JBKnowledge anticipates both wearable devices will make significant contributions to the construction industry as augmented reality and wearable technology become mainstream and affordable for builders. “It’s time businesses realized these solutions and devices are not just for video games, they are going to bring technology and BIM to the masses on the job site in a way never imagined,” stated Benham.
For more information on SmartReality for Oculus, watch the video demonstration at http://youtu.be/-0-cqz9JRKs.
About JBKnowledge, Inc.
An information technology services and products provider, JBKnowledge, Inc. specializes in enterprise applications and databases, electronic data interchange, strategy consulting, mobile solutions, and Web development for the construction and insurance industries. Makers of SmartBidNet, SmartCompliance and SmartReality, JBKnowledge is based in Bryan/College Station, TX, and serves construction clients on an international basis.
Learn more at jbknowledge.com.