Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) provide users with immersive environments and experiences. Unlike what we see on screens, they give a sense of being present in the environment it generates.
AR meshes its environment with reality, while VR fully immerses you into a virtual space that is seemingly real.
A Bit of a History Lesson
They sound like a relatively new concept that has evolved ever since, but it goes way back. The earliest attempts at AR and VR dates back to the 1960s when the first VR head-mounted device (HMD) was invented in the form of the Telesphere Mask, followed by an attempt at AR in 1968, The Sword of Damocles.
The early attempts at the technology were always marketed as “the future.” Still, the results were underwhelming due to technological limits at the time, so the public perceived them as nothing but a fad.
Both were commercial failures at the time, but the efforts were still a step towards improvement.
AR/VR in the Present
AR/VR applications and games are booming, especially in the entertainment sector. Games and applications like VRChat, PavlovVR, Beat Saber, Youtube VR, and more are successful examples of these.
The games developed used to cater to a niche audience but are becoming more mainstream, with the headsets and controllers becoming more advanced and less costly.
The reduced costs allow businesses across different industries to find more ways to incorporate AR/VR into their processes and achieve unprecedented technological breakthroughs.
With it, AR/VR can shine as something practical rather than just an entertainment device.
Practical Applications
The development of AR/VR apps is no different from how games are made, and that makes creating apps a less-costly and labor-intensive affair for developers. The creative possibilities make AR/VR development and use versatile across different fields.
The versatility is apparent as many diverse industries utilize AR/VR technologies to achieve better results and impressive milestones in their respective fields.
Here are prominent examples of how different industries utilize AR and VR technologies.
Education: AR/VR apps can augment learning experiences by providing an interactive approach. Lessons that used to be bound in books and pictures can be experienced in a new immersive, and practical way. It helps students visualize and understand obscure concepts better.
Policing: AR systems can help officers prepare for dangerous situations by having a 3D model of the environment. AR can help better assess a situation or forensic evidence by showing detailed and immersive visual information.
Healthcare: Healthcare gains significant benefits from AR/VR technology. For treating mental health issues, exposure to immersive VR environments is therapeutic. As for surgical applications, it can help surgeons prepare for surgeries and familiarize themselves with new technologies.
Travel and Tourism: One way to promote tourism is to do the try-before-you-buy method by letting customers experience a fraction of the experience with an AR or VR rendition of the locale. It makes it possible to create marketing strategies to captivate your customers and have them avail of a tour package.
Training Simulators: AR/VR excels in this department because they are excellent immersive platforms that lend well to various training requirements, from driving, tractor operations, flight training, and more. It makes for an engaging experience for trainees minus the potential hazards.
A Promising Future
AR/VR technologies may be slow to take off, but their current state and potential for profit are far from how they were some years ago. Developing creative and innovative apps for AR/VR purposes and inventing new tech to improve the hardware is worth the effort.
Browse our comprehensive library of augmented and virtual reality case studies to find solutions suitable for your development needs. Your next idea could be the next step to advancing the current technology.
