Nowadays, it seems like everyone owns a brand-new high-tech headset. We continually coming back to this technology in search of fresh approaches to its use or presentation to customers. While Vive and Oculus have been available for some time, Microsoft has HoloLens, and there are kid-friendly goggles you can strap a high-quality Android phone to in order to simulate a full VR experience.
For casual shoppers, this approach has resulted in acronyms that are unclear. When the technology comes to sound the same, terms like AR, VR, XR, and others start to lose their meaning. Let’s set the record straight by providing some simple (but crucial) definitions for all this “reality” technology and why it matters.
AR: Augmented reality:
Displays that allow you to see the real world but overlay it with extra information are referred to as augmented reality. You probably utilize the most basic sorts of AR on a daily basis without giving them any thought. For example, scanning a QR code with your camera app is a type of AR that allows you to interact with the real world digitally.
HoloLens and Vision Pro, more sophisticated AR goggles, can do much more.
AR does, however, also offer entertainment. Look no farther than the massively popular Pokémon Go, which led both children and adults to explore their communities in all types of weather in search of rare Pokémon. Additionally, there are more and more AR overlays for events like concerts, museums, and others.
Real-world AR alternatives include identifying products in the grocery store based on its packaging or outward look to give more details. Companies like Ikea provide augmented reality to aid customers in choosing furnishings.
VR: Virtual reality:
The majority of VR headsets are simple to identify because they are typically large, bulky gadgets like Sony’s PlayStation VR, the Vive, and Oculus (which has now rebranded as Meta Quest). The headsets typically come with a headset to deliver the necessary audio as well as a pair of controls that users can use to interact with their immersive digital world.
VR is a specialized technology by its own nature. It frequently calls for pricey hardware, a lot of processing power, and enough room to walk about comfortably in a room. Because of this, not everybody has a VR headset on their shelves. VR also has other restrictions. While using it, some individuals experience nausea, while others have trouble utilizing the controls.
Despite these difficulties, VR has become a popular gaming and exploring tool, from independent games to fully immersive experiences at unique locales. A few professional uses are also emerging, such as in virtual reality meetings and specific types of rehabilitation. More VR initiatives emerged at COVID to bring people together in virtual worlds to talk about projects or watch movies. However, initiatives like Metaverse keep falling short or only appeal to a small portion of the market.
There is a specific category of VR headsets where you can place your phone inside and use a pre-installed software to have an immersive experience. These headsets are affordable, costing about $30 to $50 on the high end, and work with all types of phones.
MR: Mixed reality:
A murkier idea known as “mixed reality” focuses on interacting with digital objects in a physical environment. Consider it AR with depth. MR focuses on the capability to use 3D digital creations in the real world intuitively, even allowing users to pick up and move virtual things.
A visor or headset are not usually necessary to use MR. Many programs have a strong emphasis on being accessible to all users, enabling interaction with motions similar to a futuristic hologram tool. In addition, MR emphasizes initiatives to map the local physical environment so that its software can comprehend the real world to a greater extent than AR.
However, digital 3D displays give users new methods to interact with their material, such as images or CAD designs, which may be useful for some users. One of the reasons Apple shows the Vision Pro with floating displays floating in space is because of this.
XR: Extended reality:
The best way to use a phrase in an industry is to group all the terms together into one broad category and discuss the trends, investment possibilities, and overall potential of each term. This means that even though it doesn’t specify any specific headset or app features, you’ll still find it on helpful tech websites like Android Police.
