Just like Virtual Reality (VR) develops an entirely new environment for the user using the technology and replaces the existing real environment, AR uses the current and real environment. Still, the objects inside are enhanced to stimulate user perception. It alters one or multiple aspects of the environment for interaction and enriches the experience. Whereas VR would have replaced the entire room and shown you an entirely manipulated environment, AR enables users to use the same environment and observe different objects within it.
Aspect
Augmented Reality (AR)
Virtual Reality (VR)
Definition
– Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information, such as images, videos, or 3D models, onto the real-world environment. AR enhances the user’s perception of reality by adding computer-generated elements.
– Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that immerses users in a completely digital, computer-generated environment. VR replaces the physical world with a simulated, interactive experience.
Interaction with Reality
– In AR, users interact with the real world while seeing additional digital information superimposed on it. AR enhances the existing environment.
– In VR, users are completely isolated from the physical world and interact solely with the computer-generated environment. VR replaces the real world entirely.
Hardware Requirements
– AR can be experienced with various devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart glasses, and heads-up displays. These devices typically have built-in cameras and sensors for AR applications.
– VR requires dedicated hardware, such as VR headsets (e.g., Oculus Rift, HTC Vive) that completely enclose the user’s field of view and often include motion-tracking sensors.
Applications
– AR is used in a wide range of applications, including gaming, navigation (e.g., AR navigation apps), education (e.g., interactive textbooks), and industry (e.g., maintenance and remote assistance).
– VR applications include gaming, simulations (e.g., flight training), virtual tours (e.g., virtual museum visits), medical training, and therapies (e.g., VR exposure therapy for phobias).
Immersiveness
– AR provides a less immersive experience compared to VR because users remain aware of their real-world surroundings. They can switch between the digital and physical worlds easily.
– VR offers a highly immersive experience as users are entirely enveloped in a virtual environment. It provides a sense of presence, making users feel as if they are inside the virtual world.
Use of Physical Space
– AR does not require much physical space and can be used in various real-world settings, such as homes, workplaces, and public spaces.
– VR experiences often require more physical space because users may move around within the virtual environment. Dedicated VR rooms or setups are common for some applications.
Interaction
– AR often involves touch or gesture-based interactions in the real world to manipulate digital elements. Voice commands and wearable input devices are also used.
– VR allows users to interact with the virtual environment using specialized controllers or hand tracking, enabling actions like grabbing, pointing, and moving objects within the VR space.
Social Interaction
– AR applications can support social interactions in real-world contexts. For example, AR apps can enable users to share their augmented experiences with others.
– VR can support social interactions through multiplayer VR games or virtual meetings in shared virtual spaces. However, these interactions are entirely digital.
Real-World Integration
– AR is designed to enhance real-world experiences by providing additional information, contextual data, or visualizations. It often serves as a tool to improve real-world tasks.
– VR creates entirely digital environments that are often unrelated to the real world. It is used for immersive simulations and entertainment.
Examples
– Examples of AR applications include Pokémon GO (mobile AR game), AR navigation apps like Google Maps AR, and AR-assisted maintenance in industrial settings.
– Examples of VR experiences include VR gaming (e.g., Beat Saber), virtual museum tours (e.g., VR museum exhibits), and immersive VR therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Training and Education
– AR can be used for on-the-job training and education by providing real-time guidance and visual overlays.
– VR is particularly valuable for training scenarios that require a high degree of immersion, such as flight simulators or medical procedures.
Healthcare Applications
– AR is used in healthcare for tasks like vein visualization, where digital overlays assist medical professionals in locating veins for injections.
– VR is used in therapies, such as VR exposure therapy for treating phobias, and for pain management during medical procedures.
Gaming and Entertainment
– AR gaming combines digital elements with the real world, as seen in games like Pokémon GO.
– VR gaming offers immersive experiences, such as first-person shooters and adventure games designed exclusively for VR headsets.
Cost
– AR experiences are often more accessible because they can be enjoyed with existing consumer devices like smartphones and tablets.
– VR can be costlier due to the need for dedicated VR hardware, including VR headsets and compatible computers or consoles.
Future Trends
– AR is increasingly used in industries like automotive (e.g., heads-up displays), retail (e.g., virtual try-on), and augmented workspaces (e.g., remote collaboration).
– VR is advancing in areas like social VR, healthcare simulations, and architectural visualization. Wireless VR and improved haptic feedback are emerging trends.
Why does augmented reality (AR) matter in business?
Visualization is important to humans. To better understand a certain phenomenon or to simply make them more interactive. A large variety of tools has been developed to aid humans in various activities. From introducing simulations to performing activities through virtual modules, the technology has taken leaps from when it was first introduced as a concept. One such marvel is Augmented Reality (AR).
Through digital manipulation, the users experience an alternate version of the environment. It is different from VR because AR simply uses the existing environment and adds 3D models or layers of virtual objects, and displays them to the user.
Difference between VR and AR
An extremely simple example could be an application that allows you to put 3D models of furniture into a room and see how well it suits your room or whether it goes with the aesthetics of the room or not. Whereas VR would have replaced the entire room and shown you an entirely manipulated environment, AR enables users to use the same environment and observe different objects within it.
How does AR work?
The AR technology consists of three core components: the hardware, software and application.
The hardware can be smartphones, which have certain features that AR technology demands.
Within the hardware, the first important thing is the processor, which should successfully use this technology.
Next comes the GPU or Graphic Processing Unit.
Finally, it should be equipped with sensors as the AR technology uses these to incorporate objects within the environment. An example is Depth and Proximity sensor. The depth sensor is used by the technology to determine how deep an object is and how much distance it needs to be placed. The proximity sensor measures how far or how close an object is. These two, along with other sensors, are important for the successful integration of this technology.
The next component is the software, which is at the core of the technology. The software is what makes AR possible. It enables devices to understand the environment that it is to be integrated into. The feature enables the device to properly comprehend the environment and how other objects are to be placed. Along with this, minute technicalities like the environment’s lighting are also considered by the software so that the objects to be inserted can adjust to the already existing lighting of the environment. It also takes care of the motion of objects and tracks them accordingly to adjust to the surroundings.
The puzzle’s final piece is the application, which uses these technologies and put on the screen what the user expects. The hardware and software interact with the application to enhance user experience and make it worthwhile.
AR commercial applications
AR has far-reaching applications. One of the biggest sectors that it can help improve is the education sector. From primary schooling, all the way to college, using interactive AR technologies can enhance the thinking capabilities of the students and help them understand more creatively and effectively.
Successful integration will require training of the teaching staff, which should be the primary target to successfully augment this technology into the education system.
AR technologies have already made their way to Gaming platforms. A recent craze over the AR game Pokémon Go is the living proof of how creative designthinking and AR can be compiled to produce wonderful user experiences. However, the creativity and fun aspects are not the only potential uses of this technology.
From constructing rooms to decorating art galleries, AR has the potential to help and guide users in creating marvels. Urban planning has been recently integrated with the use of AR technologies to guide professionals by creating maps and structures, which gives an overview of the entire plan before being implemented.
In high technology industries where quick access might be required to manuals or control instructions, AR technologies can help by providing quick access to virtual manuals and completely disregard the need for physical manuals.
Another use of AR is found in the healthcare and fitness industry where smart glasses are developed for biking and running. These enable the users to be immersed in a fun and interactive environment while they workout. While VR in the same way changes entire surroundings, AR lets you stay within the environment and only adds to making your experience more creative and fun.
In the future, it is expected that AR technologies will be adopted by almost all sectors and industries to enhance both employee and user experience. Digital Marketing will be the norm which users will be able to see through their devices around the places that they live.
E-commerce stores can benefit from this technology by incorporating it into clothing stores. The idea is to give an augmented view of the user in a wide range of clothes instead of actually having to change them. It ensures ease and convenience for the user and makes service quick and effective.
The major obstacle for AR to scale up
There are some obstacles, which need to be addressed before the technology becomes available widespread. Objects recognition and how well they are incorporated into the environment needs to be flawless for the system to work properly. To add to the ease of convenience of the end-users, developments towards a “hands-free” interface should be pursued.
In large environments where far better integration is required, efforts need to be made to properly incorporate the surroundings through the technology. Improvements are being made and the technology is becoming widespread given its uniqueness and attractive features.
The possibilities that exist for AR are unlimited. From education to gaming and architecture to fitness, a comprehensive stream of technology applications is available and in demand. The only question is how quickly devices are developed and successfully integrated with this technology.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
