AR & VR – What’s the Difference and What’s the Future?

The world of AR & VR is becoming increasingly more popular and frequently discussed, as technology advances and capabilities become more expansive and accurate. So, what’s the difference – and what does the future of AR & VR look like?

At their most basic, the concepts behind Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can be quite simple to understand. Augmented Reality is a technology that superimposes digital images onto the physical world to provide an enhanced reality. By contrast, Virtual Reality completely immerses an individual into an entirely digital, simulated environment.

The possibilities for the use of AR & VR are near endless – from gaming to marketing, training, education, and beyond. For example, retailers have found success using AR & VR tech to strengthen customer engagement. Fashion retailers have used AR tech to allow customers to visualize what particular clothing items would look like on them; and hotels have implemented VR experiences to let potential customers get a feel for the resort before booking.

The difference between AR & VR technology is not just in the type of experience they deliver, but also the hardware they require. For example, Virtual Reality headsets like the Oculus Rift, VIVE, and Sony Playstation VR allow individuals to immerse into a 3D environment – and typically need other hardware attached for movement tracking. On the other hand, Augmented Reality can be experienced through a variety of devices and platforms; with the most common example being the infamous smartphone game PokémonGO which utilized GPS, camera, and other smartphone capabilities.

With the advancement of technology, such as 5G and the deployment of Smart City tech, the future of AR & VR is looking incredibly bright. Developers will be given new possibilities to create more immersive VR experiences. Autonomous vehicles will have a greater scope of Augmented Reality features, allowing individuals to gain insight into their environment while on the move all via their smartphone. Additionally, the convergence of AR & VR means that one could utilize aspects of both – allowing for what’s branded as “Mixed Reality” experiences, like digitally overlaid furniture within your home to give the perfect home styling.

The possibilities for VR & AR are near endless and many businesses are now investing in these technologies and capabilities to gain a competitive edge. But with all this potential, comes pitfalls and risks – such as the potential for VR to become too engaging and immersive, such that individuals become out of touch with the physical world. Therefore, as with any tech development, safety and awareness remains paramount.

Cutting to the chase, the past few years of tech development have poised AR & VR as powerful tools for marketing and entertainment. With the improvement of mobile technology, 5G, and more; the possibilities for Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality are near limitless. With all the potential, however, we must ensure that safety and awareness remain paramount as the world of AR & VR opens up.

In conclusion, AR and VR are both incredibly powerful, interactive technologies that are increasingly being used in various aspects of life. They each offer many unique benefits to users and developers, such as immersion, enhanced interactivity, and a heightened sense of realism. AR and VR will continue to be major players worldwide in the years to come, as they expand into more industries and become more advanced. We may soon see a world where AR and VR cross over into a single technology, becoming interconnected and working together to create myriad experiences. We can only imagine the incredible possibilities of what these exciting technologies may enable us to do, learn, and experience in the future. With the right combination of knowledge, creativity, and resources, the possibilities are limitless.