Industries across the world are embracing extended reality (XR) to unlock new efficiencies – and one of the flagship devices making it possible is the Microsoft HoloLens 2.

HoloLens 2 is a market leader for mixed reality in the workplace. Its uptake is down to its ergonomic design, intuitive controls and immersive waveguide technology.

It also sits snugly in an ever-growing ecosystem of software. The XR scene is bursting with apps that help enterprises to connect frontline staff and remote experts whether in maintenance, frontline operations or training.

As well as enabling real-time troubleshooting, it allows you to cut travel costs – which is good for the planet as well as your budget.

It can be used in pretty much any industrial setting where frontline safety and mobility are needed. Here are four case studies that show just how versatile and powerful it is.

1. Kendal Care Home

Kendal Care Home offers residential, nursing, respite palliative and dementia care in the north of England.

Like all care homes, Kendal faced a range of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was imperative to find new ways of engaging with elderly and often vulnerable residents while keeping both them and their carers safe.

The Microsoft HoloLens 2 provided a solution. Nurses wearing the headset could call any resident's GP and hold a remote consultation. The doctor could communicate directly with residents, make diagnoses and make suggestions for treatment – all in real time.

The remote nature of the solution meant the GP could hold the consultation from their home or practice. Whatever the setting, the level of patient care was the same.

The care home's deputy manager Geethu Tennison was interviewed about the use of HoloLens headsets and pointed out the different ways it helped residents, their families and staff:

"By adopting HoloLens 2, we have ensured that residents and staff remained safe during the pandemic as they are not having to travel and attend GP surgeries for their appointments, which reduces the risk of residents and staff catching COVID-19 or other infections such as flu."

She continued: 

"Because HoloLens 2 enables real-time communications, it has also helped to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents. They are still able to see and talk to their nurses and GP, despite many being infirm, unwell and bed-bound. HoloLens 2 is also providing valuable support for our staff and offering peace of mind to residents' families."

This is just one example of how HoloLens 2 keeps people safe in care settings.

2. Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Alder Hey is a children's hospital in Liverpool that cares for over 330,000 children, young people and their families.

It decided to deploy the HoloLens 2 alongside Microsoft Dynamics 365 software "to enable clinicians to collaborate and communicate remotely in real time".

Why? Because it wanted to find "a way to minimise contact in the operating theatre and allow practitioners to consult fellow medical experts during surgery, regardless of their location".

Doing so would – and did – reduce the spread of infections like COVID-19 and MRSA in theatre.

The deployment was a success, leading to remote consultations, less staff in contact with patients and fewer specialists needed on ward rounds – all of which proved to be effective ways of reducing infections.