The terms “augmented reality” and “virtual reality” is frequently used colloquially. VR headsets like the Oculus Quest or Valve Index, as well as augmented reality apps and games like Pokemon Go, are still very popular. They both sound similar, and as the technologies advance, they begin to bleed into one another. However, they’re two very distinct concepts, each with its own set of characteristics. In the future of gaming, marketing, e-commerce, education, and many other fields, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) has a lot of potentials. Both technologies are well-known for their enhanced user experience, which combines virtual and real-world with enhanced 3-D visuals. There are some significant differences between the two, despite the fact that it is easy to confuse them.
What Is Augmented Reality?
The use of digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology to create an enhanced version of the real world is known as augmented reality (AR). Companies involved in mobile computing and business applications, in particular, are increasingly adopting this strategy.
The use of augmented reality in a variety of applications continues to grow and become more widespread. Marketers and technology companies have had to fight the perception that augmented reality is nothing more than a marketing tool since its inception. Consumers, on the other hand, are beginning to see tangible benefits from this functionality and expect it to be a part of their buying process. Some early adopters in the retail industry, for example, have developed technologies that are aimed at making shopping easier for customers. Stores can show customers how different products would look in different environments by incorporating augmented reality into their catalog apps. When it comes to furniture, shoppers point the camera in the right direction and the item appears in the foreground.
What is virtual reality?
The use of computer technology to create a simulated environment is known as virtual reality (VR). VR, unlike traditional user interfaces, immerses the user in a virtual world. Users are immersed in 3D worlds and able to interact with them rather than looking at a screen in front of them. The computer is transformed into a gatekeeper to this artificial world by simulating as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, and even smell. By creating an entirely computer-generated simulation of an alternate world, virtual reality takes these same elements to a whole new level. Using special equipment such as computers, sensors, headsets, and gloves, these immersive simulations can create almost any visual or location for the player.
More than just graphics are needed to make Virtual Reality applications convincing. A person’s sense of space is based on their ability to hear and see. Humans, on the other hand, are more responsive to audio cues than they are to visual cues. Accurate environmental sounds and spatial characteristics are essential for creating truly immersive Virtual Reality experiences. These give a virtual world a strong sense of presence. Put on some headphones and tinker with this audio infographic published by The Verge to experience the binaural audio details that go into a Virtual Reality experience.
the Difference Between the Two
The distinctions between VR and AR come down to the devices they require and the experience itself:
- AR uses a real-world setting while VR is completely virtual
- AR users can control their presence in the real world; VR users are controlled by the system
- VR requires a headset device, but AR can be accessed with a smartphone
- AR enhances both the virtual and real-world while VR only enhances a fictional reality