VR vs. AR - What's the Difference?

Businesses are constantly evolving to keep up with the fast-paced nature of their industry.  In a time when appropriate and effective technology can separate your company from the competition and cut significant production costs, pioneers are finding ways to implement new technology in their own companies.  

The emergence and of AR and VR technology over the past decade has progressed from an entertainment and gaming instrument and is making a significant impact as a manufacturing and marketing tool.

Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial, computer-generated simulation or recreation of a real life environment or situation which they can interact in. Unlike traditional user interfaces, the user is placed inside an experience, and instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users arse immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds.  

Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect view of a real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input, such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

VR and AR technology has rapidly dominated the gaming industry and by 2020, VR gaming sales revenue is projected to reach an estimated $23 billion.  However, in recent years, this growing technology is being adopted in other vital industries, such as healthcare and manufacturing, as a tool to lower costs and effectively train workers by employing 3D-Interactive Technical Manuals (3D-ITMs).

With baby boomers retiring, young and inexperienced workers need to be rapidly trained in a way that resonates.  The young workforce is tech savvy, and 3D-ITMs use virtual and augmented reality to create technical simulations that operate just like a video game.  

They can be deployed online through the 3D LMS or loaded directly to a laptop for reliable access by the right person, at the right time.

3D-ITMs increase retention of procedures by allowing users to virtually perform them through the software while managers track employee performances for competency before transitioning to hands-on usage.  

Virtual and augmented reality are at the birth of the new age of simulated training and manufacturing, and during a time when businesses need to stick out from the competition, the adoption of new technology, like ITMs, are tools that can spur change and success in all industries.