What is AR VR Technology and How Does it Work?

AR VR technology has blended in with our daily lives so much that now there is no turning back. With their diverse applications in real-life they have been able to enrich our lives in various spheres. So, what is AR VR technology and why are they so important? AR VR technology basically provides you with interactive digital content that can take your experiences a level higher. VR or virtual reality is an immersive technology that creates a digital world around you and lets you be part of it. Augmented reality (AR) on the other creates digital content to superimpose on your physical environment, giving you the vision of something that does not exist in real time.

The applications of these technologies are wide and promising to great extents. Find out more about AR VR technology, their applications, impacts, and working in this article. 

Understanding Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality works by tampering the user’s perception of the world by adding digitally created images and content that blends smoothly to the user’s surroundings. A device like a smartphone or glasses delivers these 3D content to the user. To achieve this, several components are in work. Among the key components include

1.     Cameras and Sensors: cameras and sensors observe and capture the user’s real-life surroundings to create interactive content
2.     Displays and Projectors: head-mounted displays (HMD), projectors, handheld devices, eyeglasses, etc., are some of the displays through which AR content is delivered
3.     Processing Units: the processing units process the information captured by the sensors to create quality content 

The working of AR technology is like that of a web browser that loads and gives you the content you are searching for, the difference being that the delivered data comes in 3D and not on a two-dimensional screen. When a user points an AR software embedded camera device on an object, it captures the information, analyzes it, and downloads information about the object and has the information flowing in real time. It also allows the user to control it by touch, gesture, or command.

Some of the most common real-life applications of AR technology include:

1.     AR in Gaming and Entertainment: AR technology when combined with the gaming and entertainment industry gives the users interactive experience by layering digital characters onto their physical surroundings.
2.     AR in Education and Training: the use of AR in education can facilitate immersive learning, making it more vibrant and interesting to students. Military training and healthcare training too can be facilitated with the help of this technology.
3.     AR in Healthcare and Medicine: introduction of AR technology in the medical world increases the precision of healthcare professionals in surgeries as well as in diagnosing patients.

Exploring Virtual Reality (VR)

VR or virtual reality creates simulated environments that can immerse its users in the reality it creates. With the use of VR technology, users can find themselves in a three-dimensional space created with the help of computer technology. Essential components of virtual reality include:

1. Headsets and Goggles: VR headsets and goggles are screens or displays which the users wear, which replaces their natural field of view to a computer generated one.  
2. Motions Sensors and Controllers: motion sensors and controllers track the users’ movements to imitate it in the virtual world. Motion sensors and controllers come in-built with the VR headsets as well as separate accessories.
3. Computing Devices: VR technology uses the help of 3D modeling software to process and convert the data captured and stored by the sensors and controllers.

VR technology basically “fools” the user’s brain with the in-depth and intricate designs it creates. It works with the human’s understanding of their environment and perception. The VR gadgets that are used while engaging with the technology captures the user’s reflexes which are then stored to create a world that seems real to the user. Some real-life applications of VR technology are as follows:

1.     VR in Gaming and Simulation: gaming in virtual reality gives its users an immersive and interactive experience, whereby they experience and explore the computer-generated world as if it is real. Gaming is among the most popular industries where VR technology is making great impacts.
2.     VR in Virtual Tourism and Exploration: with the help of VR technology, tourism destinations can be captured to create life-like 3D models that can immerse the viewers. The 360 degrees view it offers will give its users a feeling as if they have really been to the destination.
3.     VR in Therapy and Mental Health Treatment: VR technology has also made significant changes in mental health treatments and therapies. With the help of the technology, a safe environment can be provided to the patients, allowing them to relax, de-stress, and control anxiety.

Comparing AR and VR

The basic differences between AR and VR technologies arise from the devices they use to deliver the digital content and the experience itself. AR works in an environment that exists in real time while VR is completely virtual. While VR requires devices like headsets to function, AR can be accessed through a smartphone. While using AR, the user is in control of their presence while VR users are controlled by the technology itself. AR technology enhances a user’s sudden environment while VR only does its magic in the imaginary world.

Benefits of AR VR technology are numerous, as it has all the ability to make life easier and interesting for humans. The technologies’ impact in the education and training sector are massive as is creating new bars of standard in the manufacturing and tourism industry. But with all the advantages come limitations as well. Among the top limitations of these technologies include the bulky and expensive devices it uses. The learning curve for these is also worth mentioning, as is the potential threat of addiction. While using these technologies, people tend to become more and more isolated and devoid of human interactions.

Apart from AR and VR, there are hybrid technologies too in the market that are rapidly developing and gaining acceptance.

1.     Mixed Reality (MR): the technology merges real-world with the computer generated one and even allows interaction between objects from both the worlds.
2.     Extended Reality (XR): this is an umbrella term that encapsulates all the others, AR, VR, and MR, that aims at revolutionizing digital experience.

How AR VR Technology Works: Technical Aspects

1.     Tracking and Sensing:

AR VR technology uses different types of tracking mechanisms to create digital content that seems life-like to its users. Magnetic tracking, vision-based tracking, GPS tracking, model-based tracking, are some among the few that are being widely used. These basically work with the orientation and position of the user and their surroundings.

2.     Rendering and Display:

Display technologies of AR and VR depend on the experience they are aiming to provide. Mainly there are two types of displays, optical see through and video see through. Optical see through displays are mostly seen in smart glasses while the other provides more immersive experience.

3.     Interactivity and User Input:

Devices such as controllers equipped with sensors aid in interactivity, which includes gesture interactions and voice commands.

Challenges and Future Trends

1.     Technical Limitations: AR VR technologies require good amounts of processing power, sensors, and software, that often come in big sizes, that makes it difficult to accommodate them into devices.
2.     Ethical and Privacy Concerns: since both the technologies track the user to deliver the digital experience, there are potential privacy threats involved while using AR and VR. Personal information can be given away, which could help hackers and enable ransomware attacks.

Advancements in hardware and software used in AR VR technology will lead to make them more accessible to wider public while at the same time increasing its efficiency and immersive qualities. Devices such as smart glasses are only the beginning of bigger changes that are to come.

Integration of AR VR technology with AI is one thing to look forward to. With this combination, the accuracy and efficiency of the services provided can be taken to greater heights. In sectors such as gaming industries, incorporating AI with AR and VR technologies could make game testing easier and more precise.

Implementing AR VR technologies in various industries can levitate their performance and productivity to greater lengths. This also includes worker safety and better training procedures. Since adopting these technologies would require much less manual work, this could reduce employment opportunities in those sectors.

Conclusion

The potential and possibilities of AR VR technology are endless and the rate at which it is developing indicates greater hopes for the future. The way it is molding and enhancing almost every field out there is proof enough that there are more to come, where it will become more accessible, efficient, and immersive than it is now.