AUGMENTED, MIXED, & VIRTUAL REALITY FOR LIFE
What’s the Difference Between Virtual, Mixed, & Augmented Reality?
Virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality are becoming increasingly common and challenging for some to understand the difference.
While all these technologies integrate real-world and virtual elements, they are all different from each other in one way or another. The border between the three is so thin that it is easy to confuse one with another.
Here is what I see as the fundamental difference and how each can benefit users.
Virtual Reality (VR)
This is the most common type of immersive technology. It uses exclusive headsets and haptic devices to generate images, sounds, and other sensations that simulate a three-dimensional (3D) physical presence in a virtual environment.
The headsets are connected to a computer or game console that allows the virtual experience to happen. However, you could use a standalone device like Google Cardboard as well.
It has a unique feature that lets you interact with the artificial world in its system as you would in the real world. It uses haptic technology to create a sense of touch, making it feel real.
What Are Haptic Devices?
Haptic technology provides a method of employing the touch or feeling sensory perceptions with vibrations, motions, and pulsations to heighten a person’s experience while using VR.
Sensory mechanisms apply this technology along with sight and sound to provide a user with a more realistic event or adventure.
By detecting the environment operated in, such as a VR game, flight simulator, automobile, or even a movie, these haptic devices supply appropriate responses such as vibrations.
A perfect example is in a 3D movie when a jet roars overhead, your seat rumbles and vibrates, or in a Grand Theft Auto game when you crash your car, the controller vibrates in your hands.
VR Background
The concept of virtual reality took place in the early 1930s by science fiction writers and inventors who dreamed of an escape from reality by using machines and art.
In the 1960s, the first enclosed flight simulator came to live, marking one of the first uses of this technology.
Today, technology is much more advanced and can be used by surgeons to plan surgeries.
People also get to experience different travel destinations before actually going there. With the use of a VR headset or head-mounted display (HMD), a person could visit Google Street View and get a realistic view of the place they want to visit.
Augmented Reality (AR)
While virtual reality fully immerses the user into a simulated world, this technology overlays virtual objects into the real-world environment. Unlike virtual reality, where headsets are used, this one is viewed via a screen.
It combines both the real and virtual worlds, bringing a fantastic experience. Pokémon Go is one of the most popular applications that use this technology. With a smartphone, you could download the AR app to use this technology.
It can enhance your traveling experience in different ways. With an augmented technology app, you can explore different things, such as the architecture and details of a building, by pointing your phone at it.
The healthcare, aviation, and tourism industries are developing augmented reality-based solutions to different problems.
Mixed Reality (MR)
It merges objects in the real world into virtual reality. Just like VR, users wear headsets while watching the screen and moving around in the exciting virtual world. However, this one uses a set of mounted cameras incorporating real-world objects into the virtual world. It makes you feel as if you are a participator rather than a spectator in the virtual world.
There are two types of mixed realities. The first one does not only overlay the virtual content in the real environment but also interacts with it. The other type allows you to see and even interact with the virtual environment.
The technology can be used by employees working remotely to join a virtual meeting and participate as if they were there in person. To get an idea of how you could use this, watch this demonstration of MS HoloLens and Skype.
This is not mine, so if you enjoyed this preview, like or subscribe to MS HoloLens.
Takeaways
To sum up, VR can immerse the user into an artificial environment with 3D or 4D using haptic devices. AR overlays virtual objects into the real-world surrounding. MR overlays objects through cameras and anchors those virtual objects to feel like a participator rather than a spectator.
Each of these devices and perspectives can be used in gaming, simulation, video conferencing, and others.
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Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. He is a freelance journalist currently living in the Philippines.
You can see his portfolio here. Email [email protected]
