What's the difference between VR and AR?

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are two technologies that have been getting a lot of attention in recent years. Both are fun and exciting in their own ways, but they are often mistaken for each other. In this piece, we'll look at how VR and AR are different and how they can be used for different things.

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that puts the user in a virtual world. This creates a fully immersive experience. Users of VR put on a headset that covers their eyes and ears fully. This blocks out the real world and replaces it with a digital one. This technology makes a world that is either completely made up or based on real places or events. Users can, for example, use VR to go to a museum, walk around a virtual city, or even ride a rollercoaster.

Alex Kipman believes that Augmented Reality (AR), on the other hand, is a device that puts digital information on top of the real world. AR doesn't replace the user's settings as VR does. Instead, it adds to them. AR is often used in mobile apps that use the camera to put digital items on top of the real world. AR lets people see how furniture would look in their homes or play games that connect with their surroundings.

Immersion is one of the biggest differences between VR and AR. AR makes the user's current reality better, while VR creates a fully realistic experience that takes the user to a different reality. AR has a wide range of uses, such as in education, marketing, and healthcare. VR is often used for games and fun.

Another difference is the kind of gear that is needed. AR can be used with a smartphone or portable tech like smart glasses, while VR needs a headset. AR is cheaper and easier to use than VR headsets, and most people already have the gadgets they need to use them.

In the end, VR and AR are often used equally, but they are different and can be used for different things. AR adds to the user's current reality, while VR makes a fully immersive experience that takes the place of the real world. AR can be used with mobile devices or smart tech, but VR needs a headset. Both tools have their own benefits and are changing how we see and interact with the world.