OUGD504 - Design for Screen - Augmented & Visual Reality Research

Augmented reality and Virtual reality have the ability to allow for users to have experiences and interactions driven by the desire to be immersed in a simulated reality for entertainment, play or to add an additional dimension of interaction between digital devices and the real world. 

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that layers computer-generated enhancements over an existing reality in order to make it more meaningful through the ability to enhance interaction within it and provide accurate visual illusion. This technology is rapidly coming into the mainstream, with augmented reality being developed into mobile devices apps to blend digital components into the real world in such a way that they enhance each other respectively, however distinction can be made between the two. 

Scandinavian Furniture Chain Ikea's Augmented Reality App

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial, computer-generated simulation/recreation of a real life environment or situation, immersing the user by making them feel as though they are experiencing the projected reality firsthand through stimulation of the senses - primarily their vision and hearing. This is most typically achieved by wearing a headset, such as Facebook’s 'Oculus,' equipped with the appropriate technology, and is used prominently in two different ways:

• To create and enhance an imaginary reality for gaming, entertainment, and play (Such as video and computer games, or 3D movies, head mounted display).
• To enhance training for real life environments by creating a simulation of reality where people can practice beforehand (Such as flight simulators for pilots).

Virtual reality is made possible through a coding language known as VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language). This coding can be used to create a series of images and the possible interactions associated with them specifically. 

Facebook Oculus VR Head-set.

Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality

Augmented reality and virtual reality are inverse reflections of one in another in what each of the technologies seek to achieve and provide the user. Virtual reality offers a digital recreation of a real life setting - while augmented reality delivers virtual elements, such as digital images, graphics, or sensations, as an overlay to the real world.

Point of Delivery

Virtual Reality is most typically delivered to the user through a head-mounted or hand-held controller which connects people to the virtual reality and allows them to control and navigate their actions in an environment meant to simulate the real world or imagined alternate reality.

Augmented reality is being used more and more in mobile devices such as laptops, smart phones, and tablets to change how the real world and digital images, graphics intersect and interact with one another.