What Is The Difference Between Augmented Reality And Virtual Reality?

AR And VR: The difference between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality has been always an interesting subject among individuals who are into the virtual experience. On one hand, Augmented reality consists of blending computer-generated features into the real world, while Virtual reality comprises immersing the users completely in a virtual world along with separating them from the real world. If you want to know more about Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality and the difference between them then read the following article till the end.

What is Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)?

Below here, we are going to explain the definition of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to give you an overview of both. Let’s start with Augmented Reality (AR):

Augmented Reality (AR)

AR is a perfect mixture of the digital world as well as the physical elements for creating an artificial environment. Most of the online applications are developed via AR technology for mobile or desktop in order to blend the digital components into the real world. For example, AR or Augment Reality technology on broadcasted sports games helps in displaying score overlays along with popping out 3D text messages, photos, and emails.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Now talking about VR, it is a computer-generated simulation of an alternative world or alternate reality. You can see this in 3D movies and even in video games. VR helps in creating simulations that are quite similar to the real world. The viewer on the other hand can immerse them by using computers as well as sensory devices such as headsets and gloves. Other than games and entertainment, VR is also very useful in other fields such as for training, education, and science.

Difference Between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Here is the difference between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality:

1. Augmented Reality augments the real-world scene, while Virtual Reality is a fully immersive virtual environment.
2. The user of AR technology has a sense of presence in the real world, while visual senses are under control in VR.
3. AR is 25 percent of virtual and 75 percent is reality, whereas VR is 75 percent virtual and 25 percent real.
4. AR technology makes the users partially immerse into the action, and in VR the users are fully immersed into the action.
5. When it comes to connection, upwards of 100 Mbps bandwidth is required in AR, while 50 Mbps connection is at least required in VR.
6. AR is used to improve real as well as virtual worlds, while VR can improve fictional reality for the gaming world.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality?

Both Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality comes with several advantages and disadvantages which we are going to discuss below:

Here are the Benefits/ Advantages:

Augmented Reality (AR)

1. AR helps in offering individualized learning.
2. It helps in developing the learning process.
3. It offers a wide variety of fields.
4. AR can be used for increasing the knowledge and information of users.
5. Increased accuracy
6. Provides innovation and constant improvement.
7. AR helps developers for building games offering a real experience to the user.
8. Over long distances, users can also share their experiences.

Virtual Reality (VR)

1. Great learning and creating an interactive environment.
2. VR helps in increasing work capabilities.
3. It offers more convenience to the users.
4. It lets the users experiment with an artificial environment.
5. When it comes to education, VR makes it easier and more comfortable.
6. With the help of VR, you can create a realistic world so that the user can easily explore that world.

Here are the Disadvantages:

Augmented Reality

• In order to implement, develop and maintain AR technology-based projects, it will require huge money.
• When it comes to privacy, AR lack this major factor.
• Another major shortcoming of AR devices is their low-performance level during the testing phase.
• Lack of security may affect the overall augmented reality principle.
• Having extreme engagement with AR technology can cause major health issues like obesity, mental health issues, eye problems, and a few more.

Virtual Reality

• Programmers are never going to be able to interact with virtual environments even after VR is becoming more common these days.
• People who use VR environments are somehow avoiding dealing with real-world issues and start living in the virtual world.
• Training with a VR environment will never give the same result as real-life training. There’s no guarantee that the person who has excelled in simulated tasks in a VR environment will do best in the real world as well.

Applications of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Augmented Reality

1. The AR apps are being developed which embed images, text, videos, and so on.
2. AR is also used for developing real-time 3D Games by using the Unity 3d Engine tool.
3. AR technology apps are also used by Printing and advertising industries for displaying digital content.
4. Translation apps are being developed with the use of AR technology that helps you to interpret the text in several different languages.

Virtual Reality

1. VR technology is used to build games that drastically enhance its fictional reality.
2. It is also helpful for the military as it creates flight and battlefield simulations, and so on.
3. VR devices like Google Cardboard, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, etc. can be used to transport the users into real-world and imagined environments.
4. Currently, VR is becoming a primary process for the treatment of post-traumatic stress.
5. VR technology helps the patients to come in contact with things that distress them by providing a safe environment for them.
6. VR technology is also used by medical students for practice and development skills.
7. VR also helps in many sports for measuring and analyzing the techniques of the sportsperson through digital training devices.

Final Words

Overall, while comparing these two, it seems like Virtual reality is much more complicated than Augmented reality and requires high cost and technology. On the other hand, a computer system is used in both for processing the real-time data for rendering the programmed features. In this article, we have discussed some points and features that have differentiated these two to some extent. Thank you for reading!