“It’s true that what we see through our eyes is the only reality”– correct statement.
But for now, imagine you’re using a VR box to watch some thrilling action and it will make you feel like you’re living it for real. Virtual Reality is supposed to create an artificial environment for user experience.
Let’s talk about AR (Augmented Reality), unlike Virtual Reality it uses the real-time environment of user and integration of digital information to make users feel like it’s just the real world for them. This how new technology is rapidly bringing fast pace changes to our real-world environment.
Contents
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual Reality creates a stimulating environment for the user to experience and interact with 3D world. This technology creates all sort of simulating senses like hearing, touching, feeling, visions, etc. so the users can get immersed and interact like they are living it for real. The experiences that user live can be similar or completely different from the real world.
Applications of Virtual Reality
- Can be used for gaming and entertainment purpose
- For educational purpose like teaching and training
- For medicinal and military training
- For the purpose of recruitment and training
- For collaboration of work with teams
Virtual Reality Technology Software
Software used in Virtual Reality are VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) for the development of virtual world. Web3D consortium for the development of web-based 3D graphics. Open source standard for the distribution of VR content and a WebVR (JavaScript API) for the support of various VR devices.
Hardware
Hardware includes motion sensors with gyroscopes for identifying the head, hand, and body movements. Stereoscopic HD display for interacting with 3D world, and one small but fast processor to give you a real time experience.
What is Augmented Reality?
Unlike Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality possess the real-world objects with the computer or technology generated information and perceptions to produce a simulating environment for an interactive user experience. It doesn’t create any artificial environment, instead it enhances the real-world objects including visual, auditory, olfactory, and haptic senses for real time interaction.
Applications of Augmented Reality
- For handheld devices like mobile phone apps
- For gaming purpose (You might have played Pokémon GO)
- For interior designing to make your choice more effective
- For educational purpose like teaching medicine students
- For navigation apps and sightseeing
- For advertising and promotion too
Augmented Reality Technology Software
Augmented Reality uses ARML (Augmented Reality Markup Language) which was developed under OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium), ECMAScript bindings which helps in accessing virtual objects, and some SDK’s.
Hardware
Augmented Reality simply needs a processor, display, input devices, devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs which includes camera, GPS, accelerometer, solid state compass, motion sensors for interaction.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Venn Diagram
AR vs VR (Differences)
| Features | Virtual Reality | Augmented Reality |
| Simulation | It creates artificial simulation which is completely different from real world | It uses the real-world object and get enhanced by the computer-generated perception for real time interaction |
| Immersive | VR is more immersive than AR as it uses artificial environment | Less immersive but gives more freedom to the users |
| Isolation | User gets isolated from the real-world and interacts with the artificial environment | User never gets isolated from the real-world, even it’s about enhancement of real-world |
| Benefits | Interactive marketing, branding, and promotion. | For training and educational purpose like military and medicinal training |
| Input and Output device | VR headset | Smartphones, tablets, sensors etc. |
| Suitable for | For conveying experiences | For navigation and GPS purpose |
| Devices | HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear | ARkit, Google glass enterprise, Magic Leap, Pokémon Go |
Final Thoughts on AR and VR
From the past couple of years, AR and VR are getting more importance and their uses and benefits are seen around the world with the rapid advancement in technologies. Like we’ve heard earlier many times, anything used consciously can be constructive otherwise can destructive for whole community and same applies for every type of technology.
AR/VR can be considered as one of the best innovations for enhancing real time interactions and solutions for increasing productivity. The technology is rapidly improvising day by day making user experience more real time and effective.
Author Bio:
The author is a tech enthusiast who loves to write about technology. Read more blogs written by him on www.a2zgyaan.com.
