Virtual reality (VR) is a trending technology that allows digital representations of imagined worlds. With its roots in video games and entertainment, VR swiftly founds its way into businesses where future design outcomes are envisioned in VR first before their physical manifestation in the real world. However, often virtual reality (VR) gets confused with augmented reality (AR). While they both are immersive technologies and have similarities, there are key differences you should know, so you can take advantage of both technologies correctly.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality has appeared in apps across various industries, from the Pokemon Go game to Sephora’s makeup app to Toyota’s virtual demo. Rather than creating a fully immersive virtual experience, AR enhances the real-world with images, text, and other virtual information. The most commonly used devices for AR are heads-up displays in cars, smartphones, tablets, smart lenses, and AR glasses.
Augmented reality is useful for more than just entertainment and marketing. Visual inspections, installation, and upgrade simulation are some of the many benefits businesses take advantage of. For example, IKEA and Walmart allow their customers to visualize what certain products will look like in their homes before they purchase them. Their apps overlays virtual versions of the products onto customers’ real living spaces.
Smartphones Are Game-Changers
Nowadays, smartphones can support rich AR experiences, making it easier for both people and businesses to create innovative solutions. In various industries, including aviation, automotive, healthcare, energy, and construction, new augmented reality solutions are increasingly being developed to solve complex problems as well as to promote products. In 2019, Toyota launched the Hybrid AR app to provide a better understanding of its new C-HR model. Customers were able to discover more about the car’s key features, like the hybrid’s motor, battery, and fuel tank.
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality is the most well-known of immersive technologies. The entertainment industry, especially video games, were the first adopter of VR. Currently, there is a wide range of VR applications, and many industries — engineering and construction, energy, healthcare, education, and more — are utilizing it for business purposes.
How It Works
When using virtual reality, users are completely immersed in a computer-generated reality. Usually, clients put on a head-mounted display or a VR headset and feel like they are moving among virtual objects. The headset is connected to a PC or console that enables the virtual experience. Smartphones can also be used to create virtual experiences.
Applying AR & VR To Worksites Virtual reality, along with augmented reality and 360-degree cameras, are slowly transcending the construction market, as they allow teams to digitally experience a space before and while working on it. With this technology, you’ll reduce downtime and miscommunication between designers, construction professionals, and clients, making the planning and building process run faster and more accurately. Likewise, supervising and managing projects in energy or manufacturing, e.g., hydro plant maintenance, needs attention to detail and efficiency. A well-designed AR/VR solution could help any team in becoming more efficient and reduce potential delays on its projects. Virtual reality could be at the center of your daily design processes and get great results by delivering clearer and more precise projects to your clients.
Experience A New Path To Success
Virtual and Augmented reality are increasingly becoming a critical part of both the planning and implementation process for all kinds of projects, enabling customers to gain new and interactive ways of project planning and team collaboration. If you’re interested in virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) for your business, Altitude XR is your answer.
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