Virtual Reality creates a stimulator environment using VR (Virtual Reality) headset. It creates an artificial three-dimensional environment, where a user can interact. Virtual Reality gives their user a realistic experience.
History of Virtual Reality
We feel it’s a new tech, but the story of VR has started a long ago in 1957. When Cinematographer Morton Heilig developed ‘Sensorama‘. He has developed this to give a better Cinema experience.
Later in 1960, he developed VR HMD (Head Mounted Display). You can think of this as a 1960’s VR headset. Although there is a lot of difference the concept was the same.
Technically, 1985 was the year when we got our first VR headset & gloves. When Jaron Lanier the founder of VPL Research has launched the product in his company. He popularized the term ‘Virtual Reality.
A few of the major Key players of Virtual reality are Oculus (Now owned by Facebook), HTC (High Tech Computer) & Sony, etc.
*In 2014 Mark Zuckerberg bought Oculus VR for $2 billion.
How does Virtual Reality Works?
If you see the basics, virtual reality is actually simulating the vision. Each VR headset puts up a screen in front of eyes thus, where we see an immersive 3D environment. That eliminates any interaction with the real world. Generally, there are two autofocus lenses placed between the screen and the eyes. And those adjust based on individual eye movement and positioning. Some requirements are there as well, for example, minimum 60fps of frame rate, 180 degrees Field Of View which is ideal but a minimum of 100 degrees is mandatory.
We are becoming more reactive to the Audios more than Videos. That is why Virtual Reality requires more than just graphics. Although Stereo headphones are included with PS VR if you want you can also use your preferred audio headsets if they feature a standard 3.5mm male connector.
Augmented Reality (AR) determine the position and orientation of a camera using sensors and algorithm. Basically, AR is an interactive experience of a real-world environment. You may have heard about Pokémon Go’ or you may have used Google Pixel’s Star Wars Stickers then, these apps are based on Augmented Reality.
This technology has been used in manufacturing to retail, even in healthcare technology as well.
How does Augmented Reality works?
First, from the content of the camera feed computer vision understands what is in the real world around the user. After that what the user is looking at, AR shows the digital content relevant to that. This digital content is then displayed in a realistic way so that it looks part of the real world. But the question is why does the AR need computer vision? To understand that first, we need to think about how our brain is extremely good at understanding images. This is not the same with computers, there comes computer vision in play.
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What’s the difference between VR & AR?
The basic differences between both of them are Where VR sends you to a virtual world with the help of glass. And AR puts the Virtual world in your real environment. We can say this as virtual reality replaces what people see and experience, augmented reality actually adds to it.
Now don’t go into the disputation, about which one is better. Because both are the different things which can give you a different experience. You need to think about which one you want.