The reality of the future

The role that AR and VR will play

Before we begin it’s important to lay down some basic definitions of AR and VR and differentiate these from each other. I’ll then explain why differentiation is important. Right after that, i’ll explain why it’s not important at all.

Virtual Reality (VR)

The important thing to know here is that VR removes you entirely from your present reality and places you in a new ‘Virtual’ reality. A VR headset then, such as the Oculus Rift blanks out your real environment, and replaces with a new ‘Virtual’ environment through its display.

Augmented reality (AR)

AR on the flip side, does not remove you from your present reality; Instead it displays a new virtual reality over the top of it – in essence ‘augmenting’ the real world.

Why is this distinction important?

AR and VR, because of their very nature lend themselves to different applications.

As an example, a travel agency might want to completely transport their customers to the travel destination. They would want them to feel like they’re on a real beach surrounded by coconuts, and not in their office bizarrely decorated with coconuts. For this application VR is much more appropriate.

Alternatively if a distribution centre had employees that need to navigate their warehouse whilst carrying boxes, AR is more appropriate. The ability of AR to overlay directions on the real world, enables their employees to know where to go, whilst navigating the warehouse, hands free.

Why this distinction is misleading.

In the long run this kind of AR/VR distinction is too simplistic and binary. In reality it is likely that our future realities will be much greyer. We will be able to slide effortlessly and instantly between the real, the augmented and the virtual. Much like you do when you dream.

We will each be living in our own custom modified reality – some choosing to live with the world in its unmodified state, some applying Instagram style filters to make everything a little prettier, others staying indoors and living in fantastic new worlds.

I don’t believe it’s really a question of AR or VR, As headsets shrink and time progresses, we will have one reality altering device that enables us to completely choose our level of immersion in both the real and the virtual at any given time