Digital Realities: Virtual vs Augmented/Mixed

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With the explosion in the technological advancements in the Virtual Reality segment, we have a new technology on the block that is Mixed Reality. So before I discuss Mixed Reality let's have a catch-up on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality and later in the post the difference between these technologies.

Virtual Reality

In VR you put on the head-mounted display goggles or headsets which provide virtual reality in a real life experience. VR gadgets are backed by computers, mobile or gaming rigs. VR attempts to make you experience something that is not real. It allows the user to interact and experience the virtual environment with the help of built-in sensors. But the catch is, visually we might experience that we are seeing a reality but our body is not experiencing the same thing in reality which tricks our brain that something is wrong. This is one of the biggest setbacks for VR.

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Augmented Reality/Mixed Reality

There is a big debate over which is superior. I can't comment on that since I feel both the technologies have their own potential market opportunities. AR is almost similar to VR but the only difference is that it adds digital information on top of the VR experience. AR allows seamless blending of the virtual world in the real world environment. It allows you to see the world in a whole new way. AR will definitely make the travel and shopping experience for the end user enriching. It will bring the marketing and engagement with customers to a new level.

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The main highlight of Mixed Reality is its flexibility. It is a hybrid blend of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. It combines the best of both the worlds and markets itself in a less technical term.

Mixed Reality makes the illusion so realistic that it becomes difficult to understand what is real and what is virtual. It lets the user experience the real world while also seeing realistic virtual objects. And then it maneuvers these virtual objects to such an extent that they can be treated as real world objects.

Difference between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality/Mixed Reality

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Conclusion

People say all these different nomenclatures are just marketing gimmicks. Well, I don't think so. I believe there is well defined and a segmented market for all these digital technologies. The difference between these technologies is pretty straightforward. I just hope these technologies scale up to the growing demand and at the same time launch products at a competitive price so that it can be catered to the masses.

Reference and Further Reads: 1, 2 & 3

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