What’s Augmented Reality?

Imagine traveling through the real world…Yes, you do it every day, but how about the addition of Pokemon! You can run around catching not-real Pokemon using your mobile phones and enjoy the presence (and shocks!) of Pikachu while still remaining in the real world. This can be achieved using Augmented Reality

So Augmented Reality basically involves using technology to create an “Augmented” version of reality by superimposing digital information over the real world. This can be done using AR apps in smartphones that use the camera to display the real world and superimpose extra information like text and images onto that world.

The importance of Augmented Reality cannot be understated. According to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.

I think that a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day. It will become that much a part of you.

What’s the Difference Between the Two?

With Virtual Reality, you can actually experience the Pokemon World. On the other hand, with Augmented Reality, you can experience parts of the Pokemon World in the real world. That’s the major difference between the two realities!

Virtual Reality allows for a fully immersive experience for the viewer but it is quite restrictive as it requires a headset. In other words, you can experience a different world using Virtual Reality but you are totally cut-off from the real world for that to happen. On the other hand, Augmented Reality allows more freedom as your normal world view is merely enhanced and not replaced. Also, Augmented Reality is easier to market than Virtual Reality as it does not require any special headsets but only a smartphone (Which most of us already have!!!)

This is the reason that Augmented Reality is projected to be more relevant than Virtual Reality in the long-run. According to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.

I’m excited about augmented reality because unlike virtual reality, which closes the world out, AR allows individuals to be present in the world but hopefully allows an improvement on what’s happening presently.

But overall, both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are hot technologies currently and becoming more and more popular (and better!) with time. So be sure to enjoy this persistent illusion that is a new reality for modern times!