Distinguish between AR, VR, and MR.

Discover the distinctions between Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), and explore how businesses across different sectors are leveraging these extended reality technologies to enhance their operational efficiency.

Progress in immersive technologies is ongoing, reshaping operations across different sectors. Extended reality has the potential to offer numerous advantages to businesses, prompting IT leaders to explore how these technologies could be relevant to their specific industry.

While it may initially appear complex to distinguish between augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, their frequent appearances in popular culture have made them recognizable to many. These immersive technologies have the potential to enhance the digital interactions of both customers and staff within a company. Below, we delve into each technology type, along with possible real-world applications and scenarios.

What’s augmented reality (AR)

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes digital information onto a user's real-world environment. An iconic example of AR is the digital display in Tony Stark's Iron Man helmet, which provides crucial data like object distances, altitude, and opponent speed. Another well-known AR application is the game Pokemon Go, where players can engage with virtual characters using their smartphones within their physical surroundings.

However, augmented reality has now made its way into the realm of business as well. Some companies have started utilizing AR technology to train their employees and assist in maintenance tasks. The applications of augmented reality are vast and varied.

Use cases for augmented reality

• In a manufacturing setting, an augmented reality headset can provide essential information such as the model and serial number of a machine, along with its instruction manual and repair guidelines. These AR headsets can be synced with tablets or computers, allowing supervisors to see what the employee is seeing and provide verbal guidance on equipment usage or repair procedures when necessary. Moreover, AR can display animated instructions for completing tasks or fixing machinery.

• Restaurants have also begun incorporating AR technology into their services by offering diners the option to view menu items through augmented reality when placing orders in person or via mobile devices. This enables customers to gain a better understanding of the food they are ordering, including details like portion sizes, potentially enhancing customer satisfaction. Additionally, implementing AR menus could potentially reduce the need for paper menu reprints, leading to cost savings for restaurants.

• Another area where augmented reality can make a significant impact is in warehouse logistics. Warehouse staff can utilize AR smart glasses to find the most efficient route within the warehouse to retrieve items for customers. The smart glasses can guide employees to the correct location and confirm the exact placement of items on shelves, streamlining the picking process and improving overall efficiency.

What’s virtual reality ? 

Virtual reality, also known as VR, is a technology that creates a computer-simulated environment in three dimensions, allowing users to interact with digital objects through various means such as clicking a mouse or using wearable devices like headsets and gloves. In movies like The Matrix and Ready Player One, virtual reality is depicted as a fully immersive, computer-generated world that replicates all the physical sensations of the real world. While the technology has not yet reached the point of replicating taste, touch, and smell, it still provides a partially immersive experience that can be quite useful.

Various consumer VR products are available in the market, such as Google's Cardboard, Meta's Oculus Rift, and Sony's PlayStation VR2. Virtual reality has numerous applications across different industries. For instance, manufacturers can use VR headsets to analyze equipment, optimize production processes, and train employees. By creating virtual simulations of manufacturing processes, workers can identify more efficient ways of operating machines. Additionally, manufacturers can develop digital twins of products to monitor their lifecycle and gain valuable insights into their functionality.

In the healthcare sector, virtual reality holds potential for applications such as exposure therapy for veterans suffering from PTSD and rehabilitation treatments for patients with neurological disorders. 

Key differences between AR and VR

It's important to note the distinctions between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality. AR can be experienced through smartphones, whereas VR requires specialized headsets. AR merges the virtual and real worlds, whereas VR immerses users in a completely fictional environment. While playing an AR game like Pokemon Go, users can see virtual creatures overlaid on the real world, but in a VR game, users are fully immersed in a virtual environment.

Overall, virtual reality offers a unique and innovative way to interact with digital content and experience simulated environments. It has the potential to transform various industries and enhance user experiences in gaming, training, healthcare, and more.

What is mixed reality?

Mixed reality is an advanced form of augmented reality that enables users to not only view but also manipulate and interact with virtual objects and information. A mixed reality headset presents information that is seamlessly integrated and aligned with specific physical surroundings, allowing users to engage with digital content in real-time. For instance, a mixed reality headset could project a virtual keyboard onto a desk, enabling the user to type as if using a physical keyboard. The main distinction between mixed reality and augmented reality lies in the user's ability to interact with the digital elements. While an individual wearing an augmented reality headset can view a holographic image of an object, they are unable to physically manipulate or interact with it in the same way as in mixed reality.

Use cases for mixed reality

• A technician donning a mixed reality (MR) headset has the ability to observe a holographic representation of a piece of machinery, such as an engine, and virtually disassemble it to explore its internal mechanisms. Utilizing MR for this purpose not only saves time but also eliminates the need for physical tools that would typically be necessary for inspecting the equipment in person.

• Retail merchandisers can leverage MR to visualize a store layout before implementing it in reality. A holographic display can demonstrate how the addition of a promotional display at the entrance of the store would look like. This enables retailers to make informed decisions about their store designs without committing to physical changes.

• Students can potentially enhance their learning experiences by engaging with virtual content through 3D projections and simulations. MR aids in reinforcing educational concepts without the potential risks associated with hands-on learning. For instance, a student studying museum operations can utilize MR to practice cleaning an ancient artifact without the fear of damaging a valuable historical piece.

What does extended reality mean?

The concept of extended reality, often referred to as XR, combines elements of the physical and digital realms to create a computer-generated experience. XR technology includes augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, and other immersive technologies like the metaverse. Users engage with the metaverse by utilizing XR technology.