Difference between augmented reality and virtual reality

14 Sep 2021

What is augmented reality?

Augmented Reality is a technology to show extra information in the real world. It is an emerging technology. This has great potential in the fields of education, marketing, tourism, and gaming. Major technology company giants are investing in AR. Augmented reality provides a better and enriched experience for the users by bringing the virtual and the real world together. AR is an interactive visualization system that allows the augmentation of our real experience blending both real and virtual world elements. The word ‘augment' means, ‘to make something greater by adding to it.’ Augmented reality blends virtual elements to the real world by scanning a picture or words. The user can experience this using a Mobile app or AR headset.. AR works through the integration of a device that films the real world and adds extra elements like virtual objects, animations, text, data, or sound. The user will be able to watch this visual experience from the screen of the computer or AR device. In 1990 researchers Thomas Caudell and David Mizell coined together the term augmented reality. Augmented Reality was first introduced in 1960 by Ivan Sutherland, a Harvard professor, and computer scientist. He introduced a head mount AR headset, named The sword of Damocles. The users were able to experience computer-generated graphics which enhanced their sensory perception of the world. In the current times NASA is replacing pdf documents with AR glasses to inspect and maintain their equipment.

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is a technology that helps users to immerse themselves in the virtual world. The user needs to use a VR helmet or VR glasses to get into the digitally created virtual world. This technology allows the user to immerse themselves in the artificial world. This world can be an entirely imaginary universe or a recreation of the real world. VR headsets allow users to look around and experience the virtual world around them. The user will be cut off from the real world and completely immersed in the virtual world. The experience can be visual, auditory, or haptic. With the help of a VR headset, users can get into a digital world and get the sensory feelings. The movie Real Player One displayed a prototype design where the user can get into a game by wearing a VR headset. The player will be able to feel pleasure or pain using the VR suit. The suit will evoke the sensations which the player encounters in the game. This kind of technology is not far from the future. Since the time photography was invented, researchers have been trying to develop this technology. In 1938, the first stereoscope was developed, using twin mirrors to project a single image. The term virtual reality first came into existence in the mid-1980s. Technology giant Facebook recently launched a VR platform called Metaverse. Metaverse is a remote work app that enables the user to virtually attend meetings through a VR headset. The world’s largest social network company is investing heavily in VR.

How AR is different from VR

Virtual reality is a computer-generated three-dimensional environment where the user is wholly absorbed. Augmented reality lets the user experience the real world with digital content through the computer screen. A VR user will need to use a headset or a VR glasses to experience the synthetic world. In VR gaming players will have to wear a VR headset which will completely cover their eyes and ears to experience the digital world in front of them. The market size of AR and VR is projected to be $1,274.4 billion by 2030, rising from $37 billion in 2019, according to businesswire. The rising availability of smartphones and tablets and increasing technology adaptation of enterprises are the key factors leading the market. VR headsets are expensive and require complex software to run and the virtual world needs to be programmed differently. AR is much more simple and can be created in a smartphone. It doesn't require complex coding or heavy equipment to create an AR experience. In UniteAR, one can easily create their own augmented reality without hassle. The process is really simple as it does not require coding or downloading complex software. You will need to enter the details, such as the target image, and you can choose to add an image, a 3D image, text, or video to that. The website will create the AR and you can watch your AR on your mobile screen. UniteAR is a simple and effective platform to create Augmented Reality.

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