Understanding the Difference Between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are two technologies which can be changing the best way we experience and interact with the world. AR adds visual overlays on the physical world and is often viewed through a smartphone, while VR depicts a self-contained, navigable 3D world and is often experienced through a specialized motion-detecting headset.

Choosing the Right Reality

Marketers are starting to grasp when to decide on AR or VR for his or her projects. James Giglio, CEO and founding father of Philadelphia-based consumer engagement shop MVP Interactive, has designed and built a wide range of projects in each mode. He notes that the alternative between AR and VR will depend on the project’s goals and objectives. For instance, if you need to present an experience that suspends reality, it’s best to employ VR. On the opposite hand, if you need to provide access to information that expands on the actual world, then AR is your alternative.

Scale and Isolation

Another factor to think about is the dimensions involved. Currently, VR headsets are specialized gear requiring specialized setups, so only a limited variety of viewers could be accommodated at a time. In contrast, virtually everyone has a smartphone, and AR capability is built into the later models, making it the alternative when you need to reach numerous people. Additionally, VR creates an isolated and completely contained environment, while AR has the entire world as its stage.

Mixed Reality and Relevant Experiences

There’s also Mixed Reality, which covers environments where 3D and other objects are placed over real-world scenes and interact with one another and with the actual world as a part of one space. Choosing the best reality also involves determining if the services or products you’re promoting has a relevant experience value experiencing. For example, most individuals would really like to be inside the top of knowledgeable football player, but what about laundry detergent? Is there a relevant experience value experiencing?

Verisimilitude and Appreciation

Furthermore, there’s the query of whether the experience created will add to your appreciation of the product/service, given the technology’s current level of verisimilitude. Will a VR experience of a brand new automotive feel enough like a brand new automotive to encourage the customer, or will it fail to impress them and switch them off? Giglio notes that his company did a VR pilot project for Cadillac that layered AR graphics on top, but acknowledged that it isn’t going to find a way to match driving the automotive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting the best reality, whether AR, VR, or Mixed Reality, will depend on the project’s goals, scale, and objectives. Marketers need to think about the relevant experience they wish to create and whether the technology can deliver it. By understanding the differences between these technologies and their applications, marketers can create immersive and interesting experiences that enhance their services, and ultimately drive customer appreciation and loyalty.