Introduction
As technology continues to blend into daily life, its influence can be found on various platforms. Today, you may have seen augmented reality or AR on a smartphone, or you watched a gamer don a headset and play a virtual reality or VR game. Learning about the key differences between augmented vs virtual reality is critical to getting ahead in both business and everyday life.
What's the Difference Between AR and VR?
Although AR and VR are closely related, there's a big difference between these platforms. Overall, several key characteristics define each experience, reports Tulane University. Learning what is the difference between AR and VR gives you a clear picture of today's technology.
Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
Device Demands
One of the key differences between augmented reality vs virtual reality is hardware. Typically, AR only requires a smartphone or tablet. By accessing the camera, an AR program can produce images across your real-life environment. In essence, it enhances your surroundings.
Alternatively, VR requires a headset and two controllers. You enter a reality that's unlike your surroundings. Ultimately, you achieve complete immersion in the storyline.
Setting Characteristics
What is the difference between AR and VR? The setting is a true indicator of either platform. For example, VR immerses you in a world that's unlike your everyday surroundings. It might be a meadow, another planet or a dystopian world.
For AR, you still see your real surroundings. Depending on the AR design, you'll see overlays through your smartphone's camera. From whimsical characters to sketches, AR enhances real life without immersing you in another setting.
Connection Needs
When comparing augmented vs virtual reality, your connection demands are starkly different. During AR, you merely need basic connection speeds offered by your cellphone company or Wi-Fi system. In short, connection speeds aren't a major factor in your AR experience.
With VR, you need fast speeds and the latest hardware to keep up with the graphics. Indeed, latency lag is a concern as you move through a virtual world. In the end, you need a stable connection with the fastest speeds to get the most out of your VR experience.
Control Perspective
When you compare augmented reality vs virtual reality, there's a difference in regards to control. For example, an AR environment still reflects the real world, such as seeing your household furniture or pets through a smartphone's camera. The only change might be an image, such as a playful character, dancing in your living room during an AR video game. As a result, you control how the AR moves in your environment.
In contrast, VR demands control because it's creating your surroundings. Basically, you must follow the VR's rules to move, solve or achieve a goal. In the end, the only real control in VR is turning the game on or off.
Application Flexibility
In reality, VR has some constraints because it requires full immersion. It doesn't have the flexibility that's inherent with AR. For example, AR might be used to help a field engineer through virtual overlays when there's a structural question. With VR, the engineer would need a headset and access to a software program built specifically for that field question to solve the problem.
Truthfully, applying VR in these situations isn't possible. They're best suited as simulators in other applications, such as teaching pilots how to fly. Essentially, they're helpful platforms but lack flexibility otherwise.
Examples of AR and VR Applications
According to Business.com, there are applications for both AR and VR across numerous sectors. For example, retailers might create an app where consumers "try on" clothes or makeup. In contrast, medical students might use AR in a virtual cadaver lab so that they can look at the human body at a highly detailed level. Although VR may not be as flexible as AR in these scenarios, the potential for future use is strong.
Exploring the PICO 4 VR Headset
As you learn the difference between AR and VR platforms, you might look at the hardware available today. In particular, the PICO 4 VR headset is growing in popularity as a solid product in the marketplace. At its core, it's a headset with pancake lenses offering a 105-degree FOV. When compared to other headsets, this field-of-view specification is better than other products. Essentially, you can see a lot more of your VR environment without constantly turning your head.
To get the most out of your system, be sure to read and follow the PICO 4 user guide. It's critical to calibrate the interpupillary distance so that the graphics and motion work in harmony. Also, adjust the headset's strap so that you balance the goggles with the rear assembly. Remarkably, PICO 4 products put your comfort first with a headset that doesn't feel lopsided or heavy.
Because of the headset's advanced hardware, your VR experience is one of the best in the industry. Intuitive controllers allow you to play with minimal instruction, which leads to countless hours of exploration. Simply keep up with any software updates that protect the hardware's functionality over the years.
The Future of AR and VR
As hardware design advances, the future of augmented vs virtual reality may overlap. Also called mixed reality, a combination of overlays and complete immersion is possible in the next few decades. Asking "What is the difference between AR and VR" may not be necessary when mixed reality blends in with everyday life. Ultimately, products like virtual computer screens and 3D objects might be seen in offices around the world, reports PC Magazine.
Conclusion
With AR and VR evolving at rapid rates, keeping up with the latest technological advances will both entertain and improve quality of life. In the end, augmented reality vs virtual reality will have applications throughout your personal and professional life. For the latest gaming excitement, check out PICO 4 headsets today!