VR
What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality is where the user is transferred into a different environment to that in why they are located, through the use of a virtual reality headset, together with various other controllers and haptic(touch) feedback devices. A key feature of Virtual Reality is complete immersion in the environment.
The technology is rapidly advancing and recent innovations include:
- Completely wireless, independent systems
- User position tracking, allowing movement within a room to be replicated
- Hand tracking and gesture tracking, allowing the user to ‘pick up’ objects in the virtual world.
- Touch feedback and pain simulation using body suits.
- Eye and facial gesture tracking, allowing facial expressions to be projected into the virtual world.
Trailer Video
The Oculus Quest is a current market leader in VR innovation, with room scale movement tracking built into the fully wireless headset
A user plays a game in virtual reality.
AR
What is augmented Reality?
Augmented reality differs from Virtual Reality in that the user is not completely removed from the environment in which they are located, rather virtual elements are added to the environment itself, augmenting(adding to/improving) the environment, rather than replacing it.
This allows a the real environment to become part of the experience, rather than completely replaced.
Example uses include:
- Projecting virtual screens on to real world walls or windows.
- Playing virtual board games on real tables.
Windows Mixed Reality Trailer
Augmented Reality Minecraft on Microsoft’s Hololens. A virtual design is displayed on a real-world table
Augmented reality using a mobile phone, showing what furniture would look like when placed in a real room