What’s the Difference Between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are two of the hottest buzzwords in tech right now, and both technologies have seemingly limitless potential to shape the future of entertainment, gaming, communications, productivity, and more. But what’s the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality?

In this guide, we’ll explain the key differences between virtual reality and augmented reality, providing details about each technology’s history, current uses and capabilities, and future potential as it advances further into mainstream applications and development efforts.

What about augmented reality? 

Augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, or GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, which refers to any type of artificial enhancement of reality.

As an emerging technology, AR has many different applications in the industry, including entertainment. AR makes it possible for people to interact with their surroundings in ways that are not possible in the real world. It can also provide information about objects that may be difficult to see from a distance or behind something else. In addition, AR makes information readily available through your device screen without making you take your eyes off of the task at hand. 

The same device can be used for both augmented reality and virtual reality experiences. The difference between VR and AR is in how they offer interaction. Whereas augmented reality provides a way to interact with the environment around us, virtual reality provides an entirely new one. For example, someone using augmented reality might be able to hold up their phone camera so that other people walking past them can see what the person sees on their screen.

What is virtual reality? 

Virtual reality technology has been around for a long time, but it’s only recently that it has become affordable enough for people to enjoy with home VR setups. Virtual reality is created by headsets that use two small screens to create an immersive 3D environment.

These screens show images from a computer game or other virtual environment which can be interacted with using a hand-held controller. It is made possible by presenting what are known as 360-degree stereoscopic videos at high frame rates on two matching displays in front of you, so you get the impression that you’re there in person. 

A major limitation of this type of virtual reality is that your body movements are not translated into actions on screen, limiting your interaction to head movements and button pushes. VR relies on users looking at displays to provide sensory input of three dimensions through their eyes instead of moving their bodies through space.

Which is better: AR or VR?

Augmented reality is a more accessible technology because it overlays virtual content over the real world. It is more immersive than virtual reality, which immerses you in a virtual environment. This is because augmented reality takes into account your surroundings, which makes it easier for you to perceive what is going on in both worlds. Additionally, augmented reality typically uses an existing device like your smartphone or tablet as its screen, so there is no need to purchase a new system.

You can even use something like Google Glass! 
However, augmented reality is not yet as advanced as VR systems are. Although these technologies are similar and have similar goals, augmented reality does not give the same sense of complete immersion that VR provides. The best thing about AR technology is that most people will be able to experience it without having to spend any money beyond the devices that they already own!

What is an example of virtual reality? 

Virtual reality is a simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly physical way by someone wearing a special headset, gloves, body suit, etc. VR environments are often designed to be either immersive (altering the senses) or persuasive (demonstrating how something might look in real life).

Virtual reality technology is becoming more popular due to its ability to make users feel like they are really inside of an entirely new world. An example of this is Pokémon GO, which uses virtual reality technology to let people explore the game’s map on foot rather than just seeing it on their screens. Virtual reality devices like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive can immerse people in games and other virtual realities; imagine taking a vacation through Europe without leaving your living room.!

Why is AR more popular than VR? 

For a number of reasons, augmented reality is more popular than virtual reality. One reason is that augmented reality overlays information over what you are seeing, which makes it seem less like an entirely new world. Another is that augmented reality takes up less space because it does not require as much hardware. Also, augmented reality has more applications than virtual reality because it can be applied to many different industries like retail, medicine, education, etc.

The downside of augmented reality is that it needs someone to operate it, so there needs to be somebody standing in front of the camera or wearing AR glasses. The upside of this is that, with augmented reality, people can create objects out of thin air in real life with no need for programming skills. People must have access to expensive VR equipment and headsets before they can experience any kind of immersion in a video game or other application.

How can VR be used in the future?

Virtual reality is now a big thing, but there’s still some confusion about what it actually is. There are two main types of virtual reality: augmented reality and virtual reality. With augmented reality, you wear glasses that overlay digital information on top of your real-life environment. With virtual reality technology, you wear a helmet with goggles in order to completely immerse yourself in a 3D environment.

What are the benefits of virtual reality? 
Virtual reality has been used for therapeutic purposes for patients who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this therapy, soldiers who have suffered from PTSD can be virtually transported back into their traumatic events so they can overcome them mentally. 

Virtual reality has also been used as an educational tool in which doctors are able to explore surgery before performing it on a patient. 

Another use for VR is letting people step inside architectural designs before they’re built.

Conclusion 

Augmented reality is a type of technology that overlays digital content on top of a user’s view of the real world. Virtual reality, on the other hand, creates an environment that feels completely separate from what a user sees in their day-to-day life. The two technologies are not mutually exclusive but rather serve different purposes. 

Virtual reality allows users to step into an entirely new environment, while augmented reality keeps them rooted in their day-to-day lives. For example, virtual reality lets you experience a concert as if you were there with your favorite band by putting you inside the concert venue. With augmented reality, you can use your phone as a window onto the concert, so no matter where you go in your city, you’ll have access to this experience.

Virtual reality might let me play chess against someone I don’t know because they’re inside my computer screen, while augmented reality could show me all the possible moves so I can decide which one I want to make.