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Extended reality (XR) is becoming increasingly popular in enterprises due to its potential to evolve the way we work. If you're new to XR technology, I recommend exploring these foundational resources first in which we define XR and identify various device types and management capabilities. 

Understanding these foundational elements is crucial for driving value and adoption of XR technology. Let's dive in. 

Understanding the XR landscape

XR device growth in an organization often occurs outside of IT departments. Frequently, there are various device types from different OEMs in use, all with different user interfaces and built-in applications. At scale, this lack of consistency and capability makes it exponentially difficult to ensure users can be productive and receive needed support. 

Determining which apps are needed, how to get them installed and how to run them is also challenging. It can be time consuming and challenging to determine which menu to do which thing on which device, leading to friction and frustration. Ultimately, a poor user experience will stall adoption of the technology and decrease the value of the investment.

Driving XR adoption with VMware Workspace ONE XR Hub

VMware Workspace ONE XR Hub helps drive adoption by providing a compelling and consistent user experience regardless of OEM. XR Hub serves as the primary interface for the user to access apps and content and can be configured to auto-run upon device startup, effectively acting as the default user environment. With this in place, the user is able to be productive regardless of the device being used with no need to learn a new menu or app library system. A curated interface can be branded and customized to provide a high-quality user experience.

XR Hub provides a unified environment from which users may access a number of different kinds of applications:

  • Device-native apps locally installed or delivered via Workspace ONE UEM
  • Windows virtual desktops and published applications delivered via VMware Horizon
  • HTML, SaaS, and WebXR-compatible (internet-hosted virtual reality) applications via a managed browser app
  • SteamVR/OpenVR apps running on remote Windows systems (including virtual desktops managed by VMware Horizon) and wirelessly streamed to the headset via NVIDIA's CloudXR technology

Maximizing the value of XR technology

While XR Hub may be configured and deployed standalone to provide a rich user experience for locally installed apps, integrating with other parts of the Workspace ONE platform significantly extends the value of the XR platform and devices. Instead of only running apps installed on the headset and having to remove the device to use other required apps, users can now remain in the XR Hub environment and accomplish many other necessary tasks. This helps keep users engaged and productive without having to context switch moving between devices.

As part of XR Hub's curated user experience, users can deploy customized tutorials per device type which helps them learn how to work in XR. Additionally, you can set/reset device PIN codes to enhance the log-on experience and integrate with Workspace ONE Access to provide seamless SSO across applications. Common user experience tasks such as resetting the device controllers as well as the virtual boundary can also be performed within the XR Hub environment so users do not need to exit out of the OEM's default UI. These capabilities encourage adoption and meaningful use of the technology.

Get started with XR technology today

WWT is poised to help organizations evaluate XR technology such as Workspace ONE XR Hub and the myriad of different device options as well as how they play a part in an overall digital strategy. 

Request a demo of XR Hub or learn more about the role of XR technologies. Contact us

Technologies