The Important Difference between AR and VR
There’s absolutely no denying that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have dramatically increased in prominence over the last few years. Studies have shown that almost 90% companies with annual revenues around $1 billion are leveraging AR and VR technologies for their promotional campaigns.
In fact, Apple is rumored to be dabbling in both these spaces, preparing to launch an AR/VR headset for 2023. Meanwhile, Facebook-owned HTC, and Oculus Rift are becoming the norm in the gaming and artificial intelligence world.
The concepts of AR and VR can be confusing, and they even bleed into each other a little bit. Both the technologies have one main thing in common: they have an exceptional ability to alter the perception of the world around us. What differs, however, is the perception of your presence.
Let’s elaborate on this further:
What is VR?
Virtual Reality is a computer-generated 3D simulation that immerses the user in an alternate reality. It allows them to navigate and interact in this digital world using special hardware like handheld sensors and chunky headsets.
Today’s VR can drop you in a virtual war zone, jet you off to another planet in a space ship or travel the entire world—the possibilities are endless! Apart from entertainment and games, VR has long been used in education, science and training.
What is AR?
AR combines computer-generated virtual elements with the physical world. It projects characters over physical surfaces in your current field of vision, via devices like smart lenses, AR glasses and heads-up displays.
Simply put, it lets you see the real world supplemented with digital object. Remember the Pokémon GO craze? It’s one of the most common applications of AR.
Apart from entertainment, a lot of companies like IKEA use AR apps to help shoppers visualize what particular furniture pieces will look like in their homes before purchasing them. They do so by overlaying a virtual version of the furniture on a real-live image of the shoppers’ living space.
Applications of AR and VR
When a user puts on VR headset—a head-mounted display—their brain and senses experience a sensation of moving among the virtual objects they see. The headset is connected to a console or PC to create the virtual experience. Some devices like Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard allow smartphones to create the virtual experience.
VR tools can help surgeons plan surgeries, soldiers train for combat trainings or travelers experience a destination before a flight.
On the other hand, AR devices like Microsoft Hololens, Apple’s ARKit, Google’s ARCore and ‘smart glasses’ are designed to completely free up the user’s movement, while projecting images over your vision—like a weak pair of sunglasses.
AR technology can greatly enhance a traveler’s experience. For instance, if you want to know the details of a building’s architecture, all you need to do is point your smartphone at the building, and all details will be projected in your field of vision.
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A leading Unity 3D development agency, Elementals Studio provides top-of-the-line augmented reality and virtual reality solutions, in addition to 3D product configurator development services.
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