Augmented VS. Virtual Which Realty is Better?

Controlling some of the most popular games on our phones, computers, and game systems - along with some incredible technology to come - what is the difference between AR and VR  and what should we be expecting of them in the years to come? 

Technology has become something that many of us can't live without. It grows and changes almost daily and it affects the way we work, play, communicate, spend our time, and our money. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest trending gadget and the best way to spend your time and money on this new technology. But one of the biggest trends is the two types of artificial reality that is starting to creep into our daily lives, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. What's the difference? Is one better than the other? Which one will be more beneficial in our lives and which one has the biggest future ahead of itself? Hopefully, this blog will shine a light on all of those questions!

Augmented Reality
You might not even know it - but if you have one of the latest smartphones or tablets, you are carrying around Augmented Reality with you every day. Augmented Reality, or AR, is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where objects that resides in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated information. Translation; it is a technology that superimposes computer-generated images on a user's view of the real world. It expands the world around you all by looking at the screen in your hand. Have you ever played Pokemon Go (Niantic 2016)? That is one of the most popular AR examples. When you open up the app, you are seeing the world around you with another layer added on top of it when you look at your screen. AR is also found in direction apps like Google Maps, apps that help you find your car in a crowded parking lot, shopping apps that let you try on clothes and accessories from the comfort of your home, and apps that let you decorate your home before spending a dime. What about that ever famous app called Snapchat? Those cute puppy filters? You guessed it, that is a prime example of Augmented Reality!

The very first appearance of any kind of artificial reality was in 1968. It was developed by Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull who created the first ever head-mounted display that was called "The Sword of Damocles". It was a simple device that displayed primitive computer graphics into the world around them. The true birth of AR was in the 1990s where it was first used in TV and in the Military. Once it took its first step the technology exploded. Believe it or not before it became incredibly popular in game use, it appeared in many other forms.

AR Uses that AREN'T Games.

• Enhanced navigation systems use augmented reality to superimpose a route over the live view of the road.
• During football games, broadcasters use AR to draw lines on the field to illustrate and analyze plays.
• Furniture and housewares giant IKEA offers an AR app (called IKEA Place) that lets you see how a piece of furniture will look and fit in your space.
• Military fighter pilots see an AR projection of their altitude, speed, and other data on their helmet visor, which means they don’t need to waste focus by glancing down to see them.
• Neurosurgeons sometimes use an AR projection of a 3-D brain to aid them in surgeries.   
• At historical sites like Pompeii in Italy, AR can project views of ancient civilizations over today’s ruins, bringing the past to life.
• Ground crew at Singapore’s airport wear AR glasses to see information about cargo containers, speeding up loading times

That is just a few of it's most popular and incredible uses. Then in 2016, Niantic created Pokemon Go. The world went crazy for this free app - and after only one week of being released, it made two million dollars. AR is an extremely affordable form of technology that is available to everyone. A lot of its apps are free - and the programs are easy to use. But of course, with every new wonder of technology comes its pros and cons.

AR PROS:

• Growth and ease of navigation and tourism.
• Immersive video gaming.
• Most phones and tablets already have this growing technology. AR apps will see mainstream use with lots of opportunities in the near future.
• It is very affordable. All you need is a smart device - most AR apps are free or already come programmed into your device.
• Wonderful teaching tool.
• Bridges education inequalities - it's inexpensive to provide this kind of tool to students, and everyone can have access to it.
• It builds real-time data right in front of you.
• You're able to visually preview any product.
• It provides new product experiences.
• It enhances and gives creativity.
• You can still see and experience the world around you while being apart of a different world 

AR CONS:

• Privacy issues; AR records the environment around you in real-time, leading to potential legal concerns.
• AR blurs the lines between the real world and the digital world. If you don't pay close attention you could walk, bike, or drive into very dangerous situations or accidents.
• It can be costly and technologically taxing for small businesses. If larger corporations are all using AR, smaller businesses who can't afford the technology and the equipment to handle it, they can be left behind.
• Although the apps and games are free - a lot of them make it so easy to spend money on the app, especially when gaming. It unlocks more opportunities, helps continue gameplay, and you can become one of the best players and users of the app faster if you do spend the money.
• Only accessible on phones or tablets.

Virtual Reality 
Now let's talk a little bit about Virtual Reality. Virtual reality, or VR, replaces your vision competently. It is a completely artificial, computer-generated simulation of a real life experience. This type of reality typically requires a VR headset such as a HTC View, Oculus Rift, or a PlayStation VR set for the user to be fully immersed. Sometimes you hold a controller to interact in this world around you - other times you're wearing gloves with sensors inside of them.  Once you put on the gear, your field of vision is replaced and you are totally immersed in the world around you. Never had the opportunity to see a famous concert that happened before you were born? Want to experience a roller coaster from the comfort of your living room? Want to be inside of a video game and really experience that life? That is the beauty of Virtual Reality. You can play games and experience different worlds around you safer, cheaper, and whenever you want to. But the technology is slow - and its growth and usage has been much slower compared to its AR counterpart. It is also harder to access and share in the business world. Say you are at a work conference and someone hands you a tablet or phone - you can see their products right in front of you within seconds. If VR is used in that capacity, it takes time to clean the headset and restart the application or program you want to experience. It has very limited use right now in the world outside of gaming - and the future of it being used commercially is very slow.

Best Non "Gaming" VR Uses (Current and Future)

• VR site inspections. Put on the headset and it is the next best thing to actually seeing your future hotel or destination by being totally surrounded by it before you pay for your vacation.
• Demos. It shows companies products in an engaging way that you might not even see in real life.
• VR Booth and Stage Set Designs. You and your company can save thousands of dollars to see what you're getting before you purchase.
• VR Room Diagramming. You can experience and see how a room will look and feel before it's officially designed and built.

So, which reality seems better to you thus far? Just like AR - VR has it's own set of pros and cons.

VR Pros:

• It can be an incredible sensory ride. There are no limits outside of money and imagination to create other words or to demonstrate products or spaces in moving and interesting ways.
• Little to no risk while using.
• You are in a safe environment, even if what you're experiencing might be more dangerous. Like swimming with sharks!
• Creates very real scenarios.
• Any learning speed can enjoy it.
• Innovative and enjoyable.
• You can enjoy once in a lifetime priceless experiences affordably.

VR CONS:

• Incredibly expensive. To buy the headset and all of the gear and programs to go with it can cost thousands of dollars.
• It is still in the early adoption stage. If one set of content is made for one VR console, it usually won't work on any other console.
• Still very new. A lot of the content is custom made, thus very expensive.
• It is a solo experience and very isolating. It takes the user away from the world around them.
• Very slow demos
• You won't see it in the business world anytime soon. This is due to fragmentation, lack of standards, and the high cost of high-end systems.
• Can only be used with specially made systems and products to experience the VR world

With this knowledge - what do you think is best? It all comes down to opinion. They are both incredible forms of technology that need to be respected - and have an exciting future ahead of them. But it looks like AR might beat VR in that race. AR is already used daily from the palm of your hands in your smartphone to protecting our country. It's affordable, easy to use and understand, and can keep you involved and learning with the world around you. But VR can take you to new worlds and help you experience things that you may never have the opportunity to in safe and affordable ways. VR technology could surprise us all and become more affordable and more business savvy when we least expect it - but for now, it is a gamer's paradise.

Now that you know a little bit more about AR and VR what is your next venture into this world of computer-generated reality going to be?