Both virtual reality and augmented reality for the last few years have become part of the common tech vernacular and thanks to the emerging focus on offering simulated digital experience through the high tech devices these two new facets of modern technology have become an irreplaceable part of developers’ toolkit. Yes, both of them offer an array of handy and effective solutions for business problems and numerous apps.
While the focus on both augmented and virtual reality is maintained across development niches and devices, still the larger portion of their real potential remained undiscovered until now. In this context, both of them offer the gigantic futuristic potential for the latest mobile devices, apps, and all other emerging technologies to incorporate. Whether it is about solving business problems for business environments or about dealing with employees or interacting with customers both virtual and augmented reality in today’s technologically focused business premises play an important role and in the time to come this role will become bigger corresponding every aspect of the business.
First of all, we must see both of these tech grounds in their proper context. They have revolutionary potential but these technologies are just not a new phenomenon. For close to two long decades, they are being strengthened with every new breakthrough innovations and coming to its present avatar only recently. It all started back in the ’90s with some hilarious conceptualization of a simulated reality in science fiction movies. For many, it began with the head-mounted display being introduced in the movie named Hackers back in 1990. But it was just a naïve imagination that irrespective of garnering huge interest in the audience failed to deliver a real scientific promise. Nevertheless, it would continue to be the starting point for virtual reality devices. The modern virtual reality devices came with the development of the Oculus Rift just less than two years ago.
Now after twenty-five odd years of their first conceptualization augmented and virtual reality for the first time is experiencing focus and attention from the tech community all around. With advanced graphics and app ecosystem boosting them they are ready to add value to our tech interfaces and tech intersections in the most unprecedented way. The first-generation virtual reality devices like Oculus Rift have garnered wide applause and interest from mainly the gamers who had adapted to reality quicker than others. But slowly business users understanding the potential of these devices in integrating simulated reality with business deliverables slowly took interest in them.
As for device options, there are quite a few high-performance virtual reality devices from ace tech manufacturers. HTC Vive is a powerful virtual reality device with an array of sensors and it already proved itself to be a great challenge for pioneering Oculus Rift. Google Glass which is the first optically mounted mobile computer with robust tech specs and feature sets has also been considered as one of the most sophisticated augmented reality devices. The HoloLens from Microsoft is another top augmented reality device equipped to drive workplace productivity through 3D and holographic imagery. There are other less equipped augmented reality products like Epson and Atheer smart glasses which are helping to bring the augmented reality benefits to healthcare, manufacturing, and other verticals.
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality refers to the digital and high tech maneuvers that blend digital or virtual attributes with real-world to offer an enhanced or optimized experience of reality. For instance, a 3-dimensional image placed within real-life things can give you an enhanced perception.
What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality refers to a created virtual world with the help of all the digital and tech maneuvers for users to interact with. Virtual reality offers a simulated reality that can be hard to distinguish from the actual real-world it looks and feels like. For instance, while gaming a simulated world made with digital graphics that require real-world like interactions can be called a virtual space.
Continuation from augmented reality to virtual reality
Basically both of these facets of modern technology share a whole range of similarities with respect to offering a digital yet optimized experience of reality for practical benefits and solving problems. Naturally, they facilitate a continuous experience between virtual and augmented perception of reality with an array of functionalities and features. But undoubtedly as far as application and environment are concerned both of them can differ from one another to a significant extent.
Through the augmented experience of reality, virtual data are placed over the real-world experience. Virtual reality incorporates life-like experiences of the digital world to the users of the real world. In this context, virtual reality can be great for training as by introducing life-like attributes to the digital experience it can offer a ready in hand sense of reality to the trainees. On the other hand, augmented reality through digital intervention makes something looks larger, sharper, and with more dimensions. Thus both in two different ways optimize or enhance the experience of reality through digital maneuvers.
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