Video games have come a long way from the simple, 2D experiences they used to be during their debut in the early ‘70s. Now they’re the mind-boggling and immersive augmented and virtual reality gaming experiences of today, which are only set to improve as technology advances. These two bleeding-edge technologies set to be the norm of the future, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are heavily used in the entertainment industry but have also begun to impact other sectors such as business, commerce, design and more. But what exactly separates the two from one another?
What is VR?
VR is akin to jumping right into a video game after donning on a headset (either as a standalone device or connected to an external system like a PC) and equipping other tools to interact with the space, like a remote or controller. Once set, you are transported to a fully-digital, computer-generated world or reality that completely and purposefully conceals the real world.
The possibilities of VR are endless, with options running the gamut from basic, View-Master-esque experiences such as the Netflix Stranger Things Experience, where you can only sit back and enjoy the ride, to full-fledged video games that you can interact with. Whatever the case, the experience will only qualify as VR if it completely replaces actual reality, even if only temporarily. A pretty good analogy of what VR is like for those yet to experience it is the classic 1999 The Matrix movie.
What is AR?
In contrast to VR, which completely replaces the real world, augmented reality adds a digital layer on top of it. Essentially, augmented reality is when you view the real world through a camera-capable gadget like a smartphone that ‘augments’ it by projecting virtual objects and entities onto the surroundings.
Although not as immersive as VR, AR has probably already snuck into your daily life without you noticing, given that it’s more subtle and has plenty of real-world applications. If you have heard of or played Pokémon Go, you’ve already tried AR in gaming first-hand. Other ways where AR is used to its full potential are in applications such as medical training, interior design, retail, and more.
Differentiating between VR and AR
As we’ve established, the main difference between VR and AR is whether you are fully replacing the real world or simply morphing it to be more colourful and interesting. However, more differences stem from this distinction. Since VR is concerned with fully virtual 3D spaces, it requires a VR headset to block out the real world and a type of controller device to move your digital self and interact with the new reality.
On the other hand, augmented reality does not need such dedicated equipment since you can still see and interact with the real world. It only needs some sort of camera to use your surroundings as input and the processing power to fully map a digital reality on top of it.
Conclusion
As VR and AR become more intertwined in our daily life, from gaming to working and more, the industry surrounding them will only continue to expand. With more and more people discovering the wonders of what both have to offer in the world of gaming, you can expect more breathtaking games to come out in the years to come.
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