Augmented Reality VS Virtual Reality
ar vs vr - It seems like there is a new “reality” being created every day...to cut through the confusion here is our breakdown on what you need to know about all the realities!
Put really simply there are three realities that we work in:
Augmented Reality (AR) - virtual or digital objects or animations are overlaid onto the viewers real-world environment.
Virtual Reality (VR) - is an artificial virtual or digital environment that the user is totally immersed into.
Mixed Reality (MR or XR) - is Augmented Reality with the added bonus of being able to interact with digital and real-world objects.
Still Confused? Yep...we were too! So let’s take a deep dive into the details of each “reality”.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Think Pokemon Go or the new Harry Potter game that millions around the world are downloading and playing through their smartphones every day. AR is the addition of a 3D digital layer over the users real-world environment, when Pikacu or Voldemort appear on screen, that’s an AR object.
AR models are now searchable on Google, with Google dropping their first 3D models into the search engine in the last month - meaning that users can open 3D models into Ar straight from their browser on compatible phones.
There are rumours flying that Apple will release their iGlasses late this year or early 2020, and this will be huge for Augmented Reality!
Virtual Reality (VR)
Total immersion of the user into a completely digital or virtual world, users wear a VR headset to experience this world and move through virtual environments complete with sound and in some cases hand controllers to allow them to interact in the world.
When you think VR you may think its is just for gaming...WRONG! VR is being used in healthcare and aged care settings across the world to offer real-world experiences to those who may not be able to get out into the outside world.
Mixed Reality (MR or XR)
The most confusing of the realities is Mixed Reality and some in the industry don’t agree that is should be a reality of its own but is an advanced version of Augmented Reality.
There are two ways to explain how XR works:
Real World Experience - an advanced version of Augmented Reality, one in which virtual or digital objects are overlaid and can interact with the real-world. The user sees and remains in the real world but digital or virtual objects and content are added to it.
Virtual World Experience - a virtual world that is completely immersive (like Virtual Reality) yet still overlaps with the real world unlike VR where the real world is completely blocked out.
Still Confused?
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered, we love to chat all things “reality”, so get in touch and we can take you through all the realities!