While reality surpasses fiction in the three-dimensional experience, this does not prevent developers from continually seeking ways to improve or transform that reality. The technologies that pursue this transformation are virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Here are the 5 main differences between them to better understand their peculiarities.
1. Virtual reality is a different reality and augmented reality transforms the current one.
Virtual reality “transports” the user to a different reality from his own: it allows him to travel in time and space, to fly or to submerge in the ocean. It offers an experience in a parallel and different world in which you can interact.
In the case of augmented reality, the user’s closest environment is used to provide digital information about the real world, complementing what they perceive through their senses.
2. Virtual reality always requires a device
The technology on which virtual reality is based on the ancient methodology of stereoscopy: it shows an image slightly different from each eye, thus offering a three-dimensional sensation. A device that visually isolates the user from the real world, such as the Oculus Rift glasses, is required. In addition to the visual effects, it also connects to gloves and allows you to interact with reality, touching objects or performing other actions.
Augmented reality requires a user-driven device. Sometimes it may be the mobile phone or an interactive screen that offers the possibility of initiating augmented reality at the user’s location. However, some companies are developing specific augmented reality devices to make the experience more interactive.
3. Augmented reality has found more diverse uses
While virtual reality is now limited to digital entertainment, augmented reality has found applications in fields such as sport, medicine and information. In the medical field, for example, it makes it possible to visualise the blood vessels, projecting them onto the skin to facilitate the work of health workers. The AR also has educational uses: WordLens recognizes a text via the mobile phone camera to translate it into the language required by the user.
4. Virtual reality is now more complex than augmented reality… but the trend will be reversed
Virtual reality is currently limited by the device it requires for user immersion, which is still under development.
However, it is curious to see that for augmented reality Microsoft is also launching HoloLens, glasses that seek to free the user from the use of the fixed screen, with holographic projections on other elements such as a wall or a table.
5. Virtual reality bases its business on the sale of the product and augmented reality, on the interaction between the two.
The virtual reality devices available are priced between approximately 600 and 800 euros. The user can then purchase films and video games to use them with and experience this parallel reality. In most cases, the business transaction ends there.
In the case of augmented reality, however, the commercial relationship is linked to the online sale of products and services. An application to organize the furniture of a living room can have linked the online version of the furniture store, facilitating the instant purchase of the items we need.