Immersive Tribe
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read
Photo courtesy of New Moon Studios

The Difference Between VR and AR and which is best for your business.

So many people are confused about AR and VR, so don’t worry if you’re unsure about where to start or have no idea what AR / VR stands for. You’re not the only one.

I’m going to clarify, giving you an idea which might be best for your business.

The google dictionary says:

“Virtual Reality or VR is a noun and is the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.

Augmented reality or AR is also a noun. And is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.”

If you understood that perfectly then you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog post now.

So let me break them down into basic English.

VR is an acronym for Virtual Reality.

The idea behind VR is to remove it’s participant from the real world and immerse them in a virtual world.

If you have seen the movie ‘Ready Player One’ this is a great example how someone can switch from the real world into a virtual one.

If you haven’t seen it then the basic concept is; you have the possibility to live two lives, one in a virtual world and one in reality.

The possibilities in Virtual Reality are limitless.

The technology isn’t quite as advanced as the film but I think it’s safe to say that this is definitely the future. (as wonderfully scary as that might sound).

But the main question is, is this right for your business?

We are seeing a lot of Virtual Reality games or experiences at Trade Shows and products to accompany industries in media, medical and even within the dating sector.

While Virtual Reality so far is used to assist in some way for a main event or purpose, it hasn’t actually become the main feature.

Let me explain; VR used in media is used to assist an already existing program for example the World Cup.

Fans are still watching on Television but with the right hardware you also have the ability to watch the match in your own Virtual booth as though you were at the stadium.

In the medical sector, it hasn’t replaced any doctor’s treatment, it is purely used for escapism or to assist the existing treatment and the patient care, encouraging a speedy recovery.

And in the dating industry, it is used for initial contact but has by no means replaced social person to person interaction.

The only place VR has so for become the main event is within the Gaming sector.

Companies such as Zero Latency in Australia have created a great experience allowing you to kill Zombies in a Virtual World. This has been used for friends and work colleagues to bond in cooperative game play, uniting to destroy a common enemy.

I played this several years ago and was completely terrified and believed that I was in an alternative world, despite knowing it was only a game.

AR is the acronym for Augmented Reality.

This takes the real world and adds a form of digital content.

A great example of this would be Snapchat filters.

Snapchat adds filters using face recognition, we see so many images of people with dog ears on their social media channels or dancing hot dogs in the office or your bedroom.

Snapchat have done a great job of disguising AR and allowing people to use it in their everyday life without them realising that it is AR.

In the Gaming world we saw Pokemon Go revolutionise the way we play games using digital content within the real world.

Again, people were playing the game without consciously thinking how amazingly possible it is to combine the real world with digital content.

So how could this affect your business?

Currently we see more and more AR content being used in museums to give an interactive experience and bring history and exhibits to life. It engages children making education interesting and we need little technology (only your phone). It’s starting to become a classroom feature to bring textbooks to life. AR is used in any form of training, educational or information setting.

If you’re not in the educational section then there are so many ways to use AR to advertise your product or brand. It’s used in package and print based advertising and also gamification. New Moon Studios developed AR for Emerge Energy Drink, in which the user scanned the packaging to see one of the Pacific Rim robots burst from the can. This brought traditional packaging to life. I think with the capabilities of AR, it won’t be long until all packaging is interactive.

AR is silently being integrated into our everyday life, to the point people don’t actually know they are using AR.

If this is something you can see your business heading into then I honestly think go for it, especially if you’re targeting millennials and younger. If you get on board now it will certainly give you a futuristic look. Once the technology is integrated and truly commonplace, you will have lost your chance to stand out from the crowd.

By Lianne Collinson.

If you’d like to know more, follow our Podcast available on all major platforms.

Join the ‘The Immersive Tribe’ on Facebook for all news and updates in Immersive Technology.

Immersive Tribe
Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade