An Overview of Augmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR)
While the concepts of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) hold immense promises to revolutionize the life around us, it is important to understand what they mean and the differences between them.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality refers to the computer-generated enhancements like graphics that help enhance the real-life environment in several creative and amazing ways. For example, Pokémon Go is a startling example of how Augmented Reality has turned into mainstream life. Some of the other applications of AR are 3D emails, text messages, score display overviews, and pop out pictures.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality refers to the technology that teleports us to an altogether different world by stimulating the vision and hearing senses. Some of the examples of this technology are VR helmet or goggles similar to Oculus Rift. A typical case of Virtual Reality deploys one or two screens held near the face and seen through the lenses. The technology works with different sensors to track the head and body of the users when they move through space. It makes use of the right images to produce an illusion making the user feel moving through an altogether different environment.
A comparison of AR and VR
Though both these kinds of realities work on the same technology, we need lesser processing power to utilize Augmented Reality for creating a different environment. While Augmented Reality works by layering the virtual components like images and graphics, Virtual Reality generates its own reality through computer technology.
Virtual reality is delivered through a controller mounted on the head or held in hands. While the users are connected to the virtual world, they can control and navigate their actions in the virtual environment. Augmented reality is applied in environments like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
AR and VR technologies are fast entering the mainstream to revolutionize the human experience of how we see and interact with the world around us.