logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
21m 26s

RealWear: Assisted reality - saving time...

PTC
About this episode

“A lot of people think about RealWear as giving superpowers to frontline workers.”

Technology has become integrated into every aspect of the way we work. But what if you work in a job where your hands are tied doing other things, like operating machinery or climbing to the top of a radio tower? Checking an iPad, or dialling into Zoom becomes a little more challenging!

And that’s where Assisted Reality and RealWear’s incredible suite of head wearables comes in. Realwear devices are easy to clip on to hard hats, baseball caps or PPE and provide an easy-to-use interface similar to a smartphone which is powered entirely by voice. This provides a range of workers with tools to access additional information and enhance their work without them having to down tools. For example, construction workers are able to see the temperatures of electric cables in thermal mode, and paramedics have the ability to link up with specialist doctors to advise them on the scene, all hands-free.

To find out about this tech our reporter Joel Shupack visited RealWear’s HQ in Vancouver, Washington, to meet chairman and CEO Andrew Crosstowski (Chrostowski). We also hear from Brian Thompson, who heads up PTC’s CAD division. He explains why PTC’s CAD software CREO has been vital to RealWear.

Find out more about RealWear here.

Find out more about CREO here.

Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC

Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for updates.

Third Angle is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design and editing by Ollie Guillou. Location recording by Hannah Dean. And music by Rowan Bishop.

Up next
Yesterday
Ryvid: Electric Motorcycles Powering a Change in Urban Transportation
What if your motorcycle wasn’t just electric, but designed to evolve with you? That’s the question Ryvid, a California-based electric vehicle startup, is answering with their bold new approach to urban mobility. Their modular, lightweight motorcycles are built not only for perfor ... Show More
17m 58s
Jul 15
Mazak: The Machine Tools Powering Sustainable Manufacturing
Mazak Europe is part of the Yamazaki Mazak Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of CNC machine tools and laser cutting machines. These machines use ultra-precise multi-axis tools to shape the components used in everything from medical devices to Formula One cars. ... Show More
16m 59s
Apr 2025
Ronna Medical: The Robotic System Transforming Neurosurgery
Ronna Medical is an advanced technology company revolutionizing neurosurgery with advanced robotic systems. These robots assist in making surgeries such as biopsies more accurate, safe and efficient. The RONNA (short for Robotic Neuro-Navigation) robotic arm is controlled remotel ... Show More
16m 30s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
Driven to Adapt
Electric vehicles have revolutionized the automotive industry and created a sustainable circular economy. Today in 2050, the internal combustion engine is a relic of the past. At the Paulista Grand Prix in São Paulo, race car driver Bela Tanaka goes neck and neck with Rahul Gonza ... Show More
27m 42s
Jul 2024
A sustainable Digital Enterprise in action: the Electronics Factory Erlangen
Does Siemens drink its own champagne? This episode gives profound insights into a real sustainable Digital Enterprise – the Electronics Factory Erlangen in Germany. Moderator Chris Brow leads his guests Kevin O’Donovan, Stefan Krug, and Magnus Edholm through a conversation on the ... Show More
21m 11s
Jun 6
The best invention since sliced bread? | Rachel Yang
Industrial manufacturers spend a huge amount of energy generating heat to make everyday materials and objects, like cement, steel, and paper. And since most companies use fossil fuels to reach these high temperatures, industrial heat accounts for 20% of our annual global carbon p ... Show More
6m 48s
Nov 2024
Chasing Arrows
Plastics production has doubled in the last two decades, clogging up our oceans and showing up in our organs. The massive growth in plastics production is also increasing CO2 output and driving up fossil fuel demand. Meanwhile, only 8% of plastic actually gets recycled, challengi ... Show More
30m 10s
Jul 2024
How Leading Manufacturers are Leveraging Technology to Fuel Factory Success featuring Stefan Schulz with 3M
With rapid advancements in technology, manufacturers are revolutionizing their operations to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, throughput, and productivity.In this episode, sponsored by Microsoft, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson welcome Stefan Schulz, Senior Vice ... Show More
40m 33s
Oct 2024
Why climate tech startups get this one thing wrong
This might be our wonkiest topic yet: Techno-economic analysis, or TEA. Before a startup proves its technology is commercially viable, it models how a technology would work. These TEAs include things like assumptions about inputs, prices, and market landscape. They help investors ... Show More
49m 38s
Dec 2024
Jobs of the Future, Harnessing Earth Observation, & Gaming Tech Advances
As 2025 begins, industries are evolving at unprecedented speed: robots are revolutionizing manufacturing, terabytes of earth observation data are driving new possibilities, and gaming technology is transforming how we design, train, and innovate across sectors.In this episode, a1 ... Show More
41m 59s
Nov 2024
S5E44 Geoff Gaw | Nitinol, R&D, and How to Learn About New Technologies
Send us a textIn this episode of the Being An Engineer Podcast, Geoff Gaw discusses his journey into engineering, the unique processes and challenges involved in metal manufacturing, and strategies for leading teams in highly regulated environments. Geoff also delves into the ali ... Show More
47m 23s
Nov 2024
[Episode #236] – Zero Carbon Industry
What are the specific industrial sectors and processes that produce greenhouse gas emissions, and how can we decarbonize them? 
18m 14s
Apr 2025
Serving data center load with carbon capture
Big tech’s data center construction boom is fueling a flurry of natural gas development, despite the fuel’s challenges, and it’s complicating big tech’s climate goals. But carbon capture and storage (CCS) could mitigate emissions from those new plants, and hyperscalers could secu ... Show More
39m 7s