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Whether we are talking about playing a video game, or using many other diverse real-world applications like manufacturing and more, one will inevitably be encountering a conversation of AR (Augmented Reality) or VR (Virtual Reality). The word “virtual” actually was given a meaning in 1959 and I quote “has been used in computer sense of not physically existing but made to appear by software.”  One way we often refer to AR and VR technology is to call it a simulation thus referring to either something already seen aka remembering or imagined which would be created from scratch.

Some other applications include Education, Virtual Show Rooms, Medical Treatments, Virtual Home and Property Tours, VR Human Resource Interviews and Staffing, just to name a few. VR (Virtual Reality) is when a synthetic depiction  shown to the viewer that may or may not resemble the current world surroundings.  There are two main types of VR (Virtual Reality): Immersive VR (Virtual Reality) and Text Based Network Reality also known as “cyberspace”. Immersive Reality, is a specific in that the view will change its relative position as you see it when you change the direction of your head.  In order to have a VR (Virtual Reality) Experience one either needs a virtual reality headset or a multi-projected environment to create lifelike images, sounds and other sensations the body would encounter to detect physical presence of being in a particular environment.  Today most VR (Virtual Reality) & AR (Augmented Reality) Experiences utilize sound, moving images including but not limited to many diverse types of sensory feedback such as haptic technology.

Haptic technology is when the simulation of touch, temperature, weight, size as well as the position of the body part(s) which then can also be relayed back to a MAT controller and feedback to the onboard game controller to communicate with the game or specific applications.  Imagine wearing a suit, shoes and gloves that will have sensors in them to give very precise details of the position your body is in.  Now let’s take that one step further and suppose that there were sensors around all parts of the body to be activated just as if they took a hit or touch in the real world.  Maybe one is playing a game and, in a fight, gets a blow to the chest or the side, the sensors would make you react just as if you got hit there in real life.

Thus VR (Virtual Reality) is when the vision you see from your eyes is taking you to seem as if you were somewhere totally else.  Now AR (Augmented reality) takes what you are currently seeing and imposing other images, sounds, sensations that are not presently in the surround you are in. Remember that VR (Virtual Reality) takes your eyes and shows them something that is not presently outside of your eyes.  However, AR (Augmented Reality) takes the image you see and places other images, videos, sensations into part of that world. One way people will easily experience VR (Virtual Reality) is to put on a pair of Virtual Realty Glasses/Googles but if they were not powered up you would think that their a blindfold over you. Thus VR (Virtual Reality) will replace your total vision with another image/videos scene that would put in place the outside world around the person. 

Now what is AR (Augmented Reality) as this sounds confusing.  Augmented Reality (AR) is when the view you see of the world or current image from VR (Virtual Reality) is imposed with other images or videos not in the original content.  Let’s take an example:  suppose you put on a pair of glasses and additional images/video were added to parts of screen that would be AR (Augmented Reality).  One of the simplest examples of AR (Augment Reality) would be to wear a pair of glasses that either shows you the time or has a part of the window where you can scroll through your emails.

 

Even though this is fascinating to learn about we are still away from when the AR (Augmented Technology) will be a main stream item and thus be way under 5000 for a complete suit that has all the tactility and feedback a person would expect.  The purpose of this technology is allow people to have a more interactive life game experience and to be able to synthesize things and experiences without a large array of unnecessary costs.