No one knows what comes after one big innovation but one big thing that is coming to alter all the existing connectivity advancement is surely 5G. 5G is more than speedy downloads or better connectivity, it will change the entire spectrum of using the internet, phones and connected devices, massive network capacity, and user experience.
The impacts of 5G are going to be huge on society, economy and on Industrial Uses- Healthcare, Retail, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Logistics, Transportation and much more. 5G is going to be a new era for IoT connected devices as well. It is the apt technology to place speed, cost and latency amalgamated for best use
Understanding the speed of 5G, You know a millisecond is 1/1000 of a second. With 5G we will go down to 1 millisecond from 200 milliseconds in 4G. This is going to improve a lot of actions that depend on latency, for instance, autonomous driving becomes more accurate, VR games will reach the masses, and even remote surgery or telesurgery will be possible hasslefree. Incisively, 5G, VR and IoT are going to be a perfect match and a new arena of faster technology and innovations.
5G rollout: Where do we stand?
We have seen 2020 as the year of 5G phones launching every now and then, but what would a consumer do with a 5G device without the 5G services available. We have witnessed more than 60 countries working on the 5G network already but India is still lagging behind. Department of Telecom recently informed that more than 13 cities including major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc. will get 5G this year. Though it is expected that 5G will see a rapid rollout than earlier 4G and 3G but major formalities are yet to take place according to researchers.
Will 5G change the gateway to VR & Gaming?
While tantalizing, this makes it difficult to pinpoint the first application areas that will drive the biggest technology investments or fastest user acceptance of 5G though few application areas are very much visible to get the triumph from the rollout of 5G services. All that areas which were somewhere lagging behind due to the effective communication will work as if an old car’s engine gets replaced by a brand new.
If we stop beating the bush, Virtual Reality could be one such application area of 5G.For gamers, 5G promises a more immersive future. High-definition live streaming will get a big boost from 5G speeds, and thanks to ultra-low latency, 5G gaming won’t be tied down to devices with high computing power. Processing, storage, and retrieval can be done in the cloud, while the game itself is displayed and controlled by a mobile device. Low-latency 5G will drive major innovation in virtual reality (VR) applications, which depend on fast feedback and response times to provide a realistic experience. These applications are likely to explode in number and sophistication as 5G networks and devices become the new normal.
Will VR Foster Industry 4.0?
Post pandemic, the world has taken an online avatar, today more of events are taking place online in lieu of offline be it work from home, online schooling , online events and the list is never ending. All this scenario needs a better connectivity, speed and low latency.
Fueled by high-speed 50mbps to 1 Gbps and mm Wave, it can change the AR/VR experience in multifold. AR/VR experiences will foster multidimensional interactions that connect consumers seamlessly with their surrounding environment.
In addition, this will not only help the entertainment industry but will be of great use in ramping up industry 4.0 innovations on smart factory floors and other process industries, such as oil refineries. We expect to see greater use of connected sensors in industrial machinery for functions such as condition monitoring, preventive maintenance, and eventually real-time process control. Data from these sensors can then be fed, wholly or in part, through a private 5G network. This data can be used to monitor tasks remotely, accurately predict equipment failures, improve training and reduce maintenance costs. Using VR glasses and splendid services of 5G, engineers and workers can work remotely and have easy access to the virtual data. Imagine troubleshooting the grande problems of industrial vitals from another part of the globe via use of AR/VR and 5G. Remotely working and accessing virtual data can be a turning point for employment opportunities, this could be one big reason why researchers have been bullish for 5 G since long.
Be whoever you want in a meeting with 5G
Landing in a world where even groceries can be delivered in minutes, it will be absolutely amazing to see your workplace doing wonders with technology. 5 G powered AR/VR is one such application which can make your work as well as workplace funnier than you imagined.
In fact, 5 G-powered AR/VR applications are expanding into the work-from-home environment, creating exciting, new meeting places for colleagues to hold important work conversations or happy hours. Stating a recent such event when two companies met through a virtual space to sign an important agreement from different countries, and CES exhibitor Spatial developed a solution that allows users to meet and collaborate as avatars.
With 5 G, AR/VR uses can soon expand into outdoor environments away from steady Wi-Fi signals. In building designs, giving directions on roads and more, 5 G-enabled AR/VR applications can create more efficient and immersive experiences. We just have to sit back and wait for these services to walk into our real world and make it as reel or virtual as possible.
Sheeba Chauhan | Sub Editor | ELE Times
