Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality: What’s the Difference?

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are two technologies that are transforming the way we interact with digital content. Although they are often used interchangeably, they are quite distinct, with unique applications, benefits, and limitations. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key differences between AR and VR.

Augmented Reality: What is it?

Augmented Reality refers to the technology that overlays digital information on the real world. It’s not about creating a completely immersive experience, but rather superimposing digital elements on top of real-world views. AR can be experienced using a device like a smartphone, tablet or wearable device. The technology typically relies on the camera of the device capturing the real world, which is then processed and analyzed by software that gathers information and overlays digital content on top of the camera feed.

Some examples of everyday AR include Snapchat lenses, Pokemon Go, and IKEA app’s ability to preview furniture within your space. AR can also be used in industries such as healthcare, tourism, and education.

Virtual Reality: What is it?

Virtual Reality, on the other hand, is the creation of entirely new environments, which users can immerse themselves in entirely. This is achieved through the use of a headset device that creates an artificial environment. VR devices can track your movements and adjust the environment so that you feel like you are in the virtual environment, making it an extremely immersive experience.

VR has long been used for gaming, but it’s also used in healthcare to help treat PTSD and phobias, in education to visualize complex concepts, and in journalism, cinema, and marketing.

So, what’s the difference between AR and VR?

The key difference between AR and VR is that AR adds digital content to the real world while VR creates a wholly new environment. With AR, the wearer is still connected to the real world, and can still see, hear, and interact with it, albeit with digital information overlaid on it. With VR, on the other hand, the wearer is wholly immersed in a simulated world, and experiences everything as if they are part of it.

Another difference between the two is the hardware needed to experience them. AR can be experienced using smartphones, tablets, and wearables, while VR requires a headset that blocks out the real world.

Conclusion

Both AR and VR have immense potential to transform the way we live, interact, and work. AR is already widely used in consumer-facing applications, and is rapidly infiltrating different industries. VR, on the other hand, is still in its early stages, with much of its potential yet to be realized.

Understanding the difference between AR and VR is crucial for businesses and consumers looking to tap into their potential. Ultimately, it is up to the user to decide which technology is right for them depending on their needs, preferences, and situation.