It was only a few years ago that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) seemed like fringe science fiction, not real tech to take seriously. But with all the recent buzz about the metaverse and how it will impact our future, people are starting to pay more attention to how they’ll use these new, exciting tools. AR and VR will eventually be the primary access point to the mythical digital universe Mark Zuckerberg is teasing. But what’s the difference between augmented reality vs virtual reality, and which one will be the killer app?
Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality: What’s the Difference?
Virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) are similar technologies. They each combine elements of the natural world with digital assets visible only through specific devices. The difference between AR and VR comes down to the degree of immersion they provide.
An AR device will bring digital elements into the physical world, while VR devices give you access to fully digital worlds. (Think: superimposing an AR Pokemon Pikachu or Gengar in your living room vs immersing yourself in the VR world of Beat Saber.)
Both technologies have their place, and one is not better than the other. AR and VR have fundamentally different use cases, too. While AR adds to your vision, VR takes over your visual perception.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality technology enhances reality by adding virtual overlays to the physical world. AR software can blend visual and audible elements together with reality. The most advanced AR hardware and software uses spatial awareness sensors, creating a more natural blend between physical and digital elements. AR that is spatially aware is often called mixed reality.
Augmented Reality Gaming
Pokemon Go is one of the most famous examples of an AR application. The game uses a map of the world to place Pokemon characters around your community. Using the screen and camera on your phone, you can locate and capture Pokemon as you walk around your neighborhood.
The Pokemon Go game tracks where you are on the map, but it doesn’t understand the context of the objects around you. The Pokemon characters (“pocket monsters”) show up on the screen, but they don’t appear to blend in with the environment. For example, it doesn’t always look like the Pokemon are standing on the ground when you spot them.
If Pokemon Go understood the topology of your environment, those virtual creatures would appear to interact with things like ground elevations or park benches.
Hardware Needed for AR
Almost everyone owns an AR-capable device these days. If you have a modern iPhone, iPad, or Android smartphone or tablet, you have all the hardware you need to experience augmented reality. You can also buy AR headsets also, but they’re expensive and not yet readily available.
AR Headsets are Mostly for Enterprise
Devices like the Microsoft HoloLens 2 and the Magic Leap One deliver the full mixed reality experience, seamlessly blending virtual elements with the environment around you. These products are available only to large-scale businesses, government, and healthcare practitioners at the moment.
AR headset technology will trickle down to the consumer market in the coming years. The first mass-production consumer smart glasses are already beginning to emerge overseas. But it will be a while before they become household devices in the U.S. Your mobile device will remain the best way to access AR technology for the foreseeable future.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality takes the idea of combining virtual elements with the real world to its logical extreme. With a VR headset (also known as a head-mounted display or HMD), the virtual experience completely encompasses your visual perception. When you put on a VR headset, you’re immediately transported to a virtual world. It’s the most immersive way you can play a video game today.
Head-Mounted Displays
There are several VR headsets on the market, split into two categories. Tethered VR headsets require a host device to run the software, such as a computer, smartphone, or PlayStation console.
Standalone VR headsets like the HTC Vive Focus Plus have all their processing power built into them and don’t require a computer connection to operate. Tethered headsets often have advanced features like the high-resolution panels in HTC’s Vive Pro 2 and the widescreen display in Pimax’s Vision 5K Super.
Whatever virtual reality headset you choose, one thing is clear: the virtual environment is here to stay, and we’ll all be working and playing in it more and more over the coming years.
Featur photo by Lucrezia Carnelos on Unsplash
