What Is AR, VR, MR, and XR, Anyway?
Although they all sound like a variety of medical acronyms, they are real and cutting-edge technologies. It can be difficult to keep track of all these different terms, and we are going to “help you” understand them!
Oftentimes people use the terms Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, and Extended Reality interchangeably when they are not the same thing. It can be hard to know exactly what this stuff is, and what it can do for you. Not to mention, the terms "augmented reality" or "mixed reality" can be downright confusing.
Let’s break down the different types of technology, and explain how cool each can be.
Augmented Reality (AR)
The easiest of the technologies to create, deploy and consume, Augmented Reality places digital creations onto your real world and all you need is your mobile device. An app is normally required to view AR activations, but there are now simpler ways of experiencing AR via the web.
The right combination of digital and real-world can lead to not only really cool stuff but also very effective messaging and experiences. For example, the face filters you use on Instagram or Snapchat are Augmented Reality. The AR app Niantic's Pokemon Go offers you the opportunity to catch Pokemon in real life as they appear on the ground in front of you.
AR offers a fun twist on familiar technology. Using a smartphone or tablet, you can seemingly turn any 2D object into a 3D model and add it to whatever you're looking at (like the menu from your favorite restaurant).
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Hold up, we’re going to pause here for a moment. AI is not a part of the extended reality group of technologies, but since it gets thrown into the mix every now and then in our conversations, we had to give it a moment of attention as well.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a system that can learn, problem solve and become more intelligent over time. For those growing up in the ’90s, you will likely remember that in the movie “Terminator 2” Skynet started to “think” by itself and became “independent” threatening the world’s safety. Luckily for us, none of that was true.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad term describing a simple system or set of software that can accomplish specific tasks with a degree of accuracy. Think of the predictive keyboard option on your phone. If you have it enabled, after using it for some time, it will “learn” your style of writing and suggest possible words when typing. The more you use it, the more accurate it becomes.
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR fully immerses you in a virtual world that you are only able to enter with the use of VR goggles. Loosely defined, “virtual reality” makes you feel like you’re somewhere else - completely blocking you from the real world around you.
Easily identified by the distinctive headsets that users wear, examples include being able to ride a rollercoaster at Six Flags or diving with sharks in the ocean. Sony PlayStation VR games with controllers for hand-held motion have gained popularity and make VR easy to use in your home. Virtual travel, which we’ve all done lately, due to current pandemic conditions is one a few of its multiple uses in a wide variety of industries. Additional peripherals such as headphones, gloves, and body packs allow users to choose how immersive their VR experience is.
Mixed Reality (MR)
MR takes away the divide between VR and AR. All of the above are immersive, creative tech. They're using technology to immerse you in a different environment, experience, or activity. Mixed Reality (MR) is the newest technology, blending digital and physical elements to create an even more immersive experience. It's been in development for years by several companies, but it has gained rapid popularity over the past few years.
Microsoft’s mixed-reality headset Microsoft HoloLens launched in 2019. This device combines high-resolution night, thermal, and soldier-borne sensors into a heads-up display. “The system also leverages augmented reality and machine learning to enable a life-like mixed reality training environment so the Close Combat Force (CCF) can rehearse before engaging any adversaries,” according to a US Army statement.
Extended Reality
Last, but not least, XR merges several technologies into a single system to take advantage of the features of other virtual realities. In simple terms, imagine a virtual environment with real people, real-time, and real context. XR is therefore, the umbrella that covers all these realities. The house where all these technologies live.
Since technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality have seen the most significant gains in terms of utility since being introduced.
And that’s the reality…
As you can see, these solutions have different goals and different capabilities. With a VR system, students can walk through a museum exhibit right from their classroom just by wearing goggles. Using AR, you can try furniture around your living room with the use of an app and your mobile phone. In both cases, it’s possible to see how practical these technologies can be. MR: It is a mix of VR and AR where virtual elements are added over real-world objects. XR is the system where all these realities merge.
These are the next wave of innovations and it’s important to know what they can do for you and/or for your business. Now that you’ve got a good idea of what each technology can do, go out there and get involved! Web-based Augmented Reality is one of the easiest technologies to implement and we can talk to you about any ideas you might have.
Sources:
https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/31/22360786/microsoft-hololens-headset-us-army-contract
https://blog.playstation.com/2021/02/23/introducing-the-next-generation-of-vr-on-playstation/
https://slate.com/technology/2019/05/virtual-reality-food-changing-dining-experience.html
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17458927.2018.1556952