Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality

by Vineith Kaul, Posted on 17 December 2020

Artificial Intelligence

Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality

The terms “augmented reality” vs “virtual reality” is more in vogue ever since technology has taken over the education industry. The two terms are often mistaken to be similar. However, they are way different from each other. Where on one hand augmented reality adds digital elements to a live view, virtual reality, on the other hand, is a complete immersion experience away from the physical world.

Let us have a look at the major points on augmented reality vs virtual reality.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality involves a real-world environment where the objects present are computer-generated. We all are aware of the popular online game Pokemon Go. It was created using augmented reality. It blends the digital components into the real world.

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality helps the users interact with the 3D world. An artificial world is created where the users can experience all the senses virtually, i.e., touch, smell, vision, and hearing.

Difference between Augmented Reality Vs Virtual Reality

Augmented Reality	Virtual Reality
The real world is augmented.	Complete immersion in the virtual world.
25% virtual, 75% real	25% real, 75% virtual
No AR device is required.	Some VR headset device is required.
The user can feel the real world.	The visual senses are under the control of technology.
More than 100 Mbps bandwidth is required.	50 Mbps bandwidth is required.
The user is in contact with the real world along with the digital objects nearby.	The user is completely away from the real world, immersed in a completely digital world.
Enhances both virtual and real worlds.	Enhances only the virtual world.

Advantages of Augmented Reality

The advantages of augmented reality are as follows:

It is accurate.
Enhances the learning process.
Promotes personalized learning.
Increases knowledge and information.
Experiences can be shattered over long distances.
Games offering real experience to the users can be developed.

Advantages of Virtual Reality

The advantages of virtual reality are as follows:

Makes education easy and interactive.
Offers immersive learning experience.
Users can experiment with the artificial environment.
Create a real virtual world and helps the users explore the world.
It is more convenient form of technology.

Use of Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is used in the following:

AR technology is being used in developing real-time 3D games.
AR apps that can embed videos, images, and text are being developed.
It is used in developing translation apps that can translate text in different languages.
AR apps are being used by the printing and advertising industries to display digital content on real-world magazines.

Uses of Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is used in the following:

Used in treating post-traumatic stress.
Used by the medical students to practice and procedures.
Provides a safe environment for the patients to deal with things they fear.
Used in military for battlefield simulations.

Thus we see how is augmented reality different from virtual reality. However, when merged together, these technologies take the user to a world of fiction and interaction between the virtual and the real world. Usually, the two are operated separately.