Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality | AR vs VR

Steadily evolving

AR and VR are emerging technologies that have created a lot of anticipation with their successful applications in different real-world areas and situations.

AR, with it’s ability to superimpose a desired imprint on a real canvas to achieve greater results, and VR with it’s ability to simulate entire environments and systems have found expression in numerous mainstream systems and applications. With the continued evolution of these star technologies happening, there is much to look forward to.

What is AR?

AR or Augmented Reality is a digital technology that can easily be accessed or used by anyone with a smartphone. AR alters the regular form and appearance of real-world stills and motion into more appealing, colourful visuals by instilling a virtual dimension in them.

The objective of these technologies is to create and lend an exaggerated profile to graphic content. This is mainly done by adding design and detail elements to render outcomes that enhance real-life experiences.

Virtually enhanced pictures of characters and situations are examples that adequately represent the relevance and usefulness of Augmented Reality.

What is VR?

AR content wears an unreal, created dimension, while still projecting real-life substance. VRon the other hand is a ground-up simulation-based out of creative imagination achieved with the help of digital devices and software.

Like the former, VR, too uses computer technology, transporting the user inside the simulated experience. Rather than watching a projection on a display in front of him, with VR, the user finds himself placed at the centre of the simulated, sense-appealing, life-like environment.

In addition to the visual aspect, VR involves creating other sense simulations like hearing and touch, transforming the situation into a fake-real experience akin to a dreamlike one.

What are the differences between AR and VR?

• AR greatly enhances pictorial depiction of objects and characters in still images and motion scenes. VR, for the most part, simulates an entire situation, creating a convincing, virtual interactive world that wraps itself around the participant.
• AR is generally positioned in the real world and borrows elements in the form of digital tools and software to present an altered layout of variables for the sake of presentation. VR, on the other hand, has no roots in the real world, and presents a completely non-real, functional landscape which is useful for entertainment and even crucial roles in different spheres of life.
• AR helps render visuals that are experienced through an external, physical display. With VR, the participant is thoroughly deeply immersed as he finds himself interacting with simulated 3D worlds.
• AR uses sensors and algorithms from a determined camera perspective, to render 3D Graphics which are supplemented with a desired effect based on the designer’s view of the situation. Virtual Reality, while using sensors and calculations creates an interactive environment with the user as the other most important part of it.It is real-world-like to the extent that the Graphics react to the movements of the eyes of the player in a game and adapt accordingly.
• AR projects an overlapping of the real and virtual world. VR implies a completely virtual interactive environment.
• AR users are in control of the environment, whereas VR users are controlled by the virtual world created.
• All AR interplay requires is a smartphone. VR engagement makes a headset device necessary and indispensable. The HP Omen is a capable laptop that you can use to engage in AR/VR gameplay.

Applications of AR and VR

These technologies have received their share of hype with enthusiasts and experts professing that AR, VR, and mixed reality will pervade most, if not all, aspects of living. In real experience, already, it has made significant strides with a noticeable adaptation during the Covid period. Some of the uses and applications of these virtual and semi-virtual technologies are,

• AR and VR are used and are proving to be excellent tools in areas of learning and on-the-job training.
• Simulation of likely dangerous situations in which candidates are trained without encountering the real-world risks and threats while gaining meaningful insights and experience.
• Such remote interaction and assistance is applicable to operations and systems in a number of industries.
• Insights, knowledge, and experience gained by skilled workers are registered and documented to pass on to those who succeed the retiring workers. It helps significantly, in preventing “skill-set loss”, so valuable gains made can continue to be utilised in industry and research.
• It has helped evolve hands-free monitoring and treatment systems in the Covid situation. For example, front-line doctors have performed wearing Hololens headsets for treatment of Covid patients.
• The experience and insights derived from the Covid relevance of AR and VR potentially opens up a gateway to applications that have, hitherto, been addressed in familiar traditional ways.Having successfully implemented these technologies in the Covid situation, they can now be tested and used in other areas where hands-free and remote assistance is needed but has not yet been resorted to.

What is Mixed reality ?

Let’s revisit the definition of AR and VR.

• Augmented Reality transposes a meaningful overlay of an imagined digital content on top of reality.
• Virtual Reality, on the other hand, supplants real world perspective completely with a 3D creation.

In relative contrast, Mixed Reality or MR is an overlapping technology, whereby it uses superimposed digital content which engages in an interplay with the environment in real-time. Simply put, in Mixed Reality, the physical and digital world are blended and appear to play out in a common plane. MR finds applications in education, healthcare and sports and live concerts and more.

Future of AR and VR

A couple of years ago AR and VR would have been talked about as technologies of the future. But, in 2022, we sit on a mountain of tech that is steadily seeping into the mainstream of applied technology. In this sense, it is safe to say that the future is already here, even though , we have begun to just scratch the surface of things.

Increasingly, as they continue to grow, Augmented and Virtual Reality are getting more and more entwined with the work, play, and learning aspects of our lives. Gaming on laptops is also set for better user experience in the near future. With every incremental progression in the mainstream, it is promising to add value and essence to society’s evolution.

Use of these significant technologies in more productive areas like manufacturing, distribution, infra design and development as well as warfare training are certain to outpace their current growth and popularity in gaming and entertainment.

AR and VR enabling hardware/tech wearables are currently offered by the likes of Oculus Quest and HTC Vive Pro Eye and more. With these notable innovation leaders leading the way and with Apple working on it’s 2022 release of it’s high-tech refined version, the path to further growth of these technologies is well laid and defined.