Many Realities? Yes, but not too Many 

Considering the plethora of terms in the field (some of which we mentioned above), you might still be confused, and rightfully so. For those new to XR, a good first step would be to have a strong grasp on the difference between two of its principal technologies – virtual reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

 

Earlier we said that XR consists of producing new experiences by using virtual content. The main difference between XR technologies lies in the way that the virtual information is integrated with the physical world around us. In the case of Augmented Reality (AR), virtual information is added to the physical world, typically by wearing a headset which projects a hologram. The hologram does not replace what we see, it augments it. In Virtual Reality (VR), however, virtual information replaces the view of the physical environment around us. This means that the only thing you see is the virtual world projected to your eyes by VR goggles. The reason it's important to distinguish AR from VR, is not only that they are the principal technologies of XR, but also that their applications can be very different. In other words, each is useful in specific scenarios, and less useful in others. Let’s look at a few examples.

 

To understand this better, consider a fashion designer designing a new dress. If the designer wants to see how the dress would look on her model before making it, XR can help. In this case, the model is “real” (physical) while the dress is not (virtual). AR technology can help merge them, by projecting the virtual dress on the physical body of the model. As another example, see the image below, in which a virtual balcony was added to an existing building, to help the architects make design decisions.