RealWear, a company that has established itself as a leader in “assisted reality” for the industrial sector, is shifting its focus to broaden the use of its technology beyond hazardous environments.
The company has announced two major launches: the Arc 3 headset, a lighter piece of hardware, and Ari OS, a new voice-controlled operating system, both designed to enhance safety and efficiency for the global frontline workforce.
RealWear’s core mission has been solving the critical problem of giving workers access to complex information and remote expert collaboration without the distraction or danger of using a handheld screen. For workers in manufacturing or energy, the hands-free, voice-activated headsets mean they can operate while wearing necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) like hard hats and safety glasses.
The RealWear Arc 3 represents a major shift in design. Weighing just 179 grams, the sleek headset is engineered for all-day wear and introduces the company’s first see-through display featuring a “double retina resolution”—a visual upgrade that delivers forty percent more detail than previous models via a dual camera system.
The lighter form factor is intended to unlock new opportunities in sectors that require less ruggedization, such as logistics, warehousing, and healthcare, extending the company’s reach beyond the automotive and energy industries that currently employ their devices.
The launch is paired with Ari OS, a powerful new voice-first operating system designed to make hands-free computing a true reality for the frontline. Running on the Arc 3 (and slated for deployment on existing RealWear devices), Ari OS allows workers to control applications, send messages, and access AI-assisted workflows using natural language.
Crucially, RealWear plans to license Ari OS to other hardware manufacturers, with the goal of establishing a single, intuitive software standard for the entire assisted reality industry.
Sebastian Beetschen, CEO of RealWear, emphasized the strategic pivot. “Having successfully served industries that require a heavy ruggedization headset, we are expanding the use case for our hardware and technology for new environments. We know there is demand for a new solution from industry such as manufacturing, robotics, clinical, pharma and healthcare environments. Arc 3 delivers on that. With the addition of Ari OS, we are democratizing access to a much wider pool of users beyond technical specialists to work more efficiently. It will be as seamless as talking to ChatGPT.”
Since its founding in 2016, RealWear has seen its ruggedized devices deployed globally by Fortune 100 companies. The company notes that while heavy environments require robust headsets, a growing majority of use cases demand a lighter, more comfortable design for daily wear.
The efficacy of their solution is echoed by enterprise partners: “This deployment has been pivotal in enhancing our service efficiency. By solving issues faster, we get customers back into their cars sooner, furthering our commitment to providing the best possible service experience” said Claus Eberhart – VP AFTERSALES, BMW of North America.
Separately, Dallas Olson, VP Global Manufacturing and Engineering, Goodyear, stated: “Microsoft Teams and RealWear have been the way we have been able to get almost all our projects done. That’s a dramatic shift for an organization.”
The Arc 3 will be available immediately on a new yearly subscription model, which bundles the hardware with free repair/replacements, free upgrades to the latest model, and support. Beetschen added that this shift is designed to offer “a complete peace of mind to users with this new subscription-based model for Arc 3.”