What is VR (Virtual Reality)?
VR (Virtual Reality), also known as virtual reality or spiritual technology, is a new practical technology developed in the 20th century.
It is a comprehensive terminal constructed with processors, gyroscopes, display media, sensor control, etc. as the main hardware, and computer graphics and images as the main software.
Virtual reality technology includes computer, electronic information, simulation technology, and its basic implementation is mainly based on computer technology, utilizing and integrating the latest developments in various high-tech fields such as 3D graphics technology, multimedia technology, simulation technology, display technology, servo technology, etc.
VR technology generates highly realistic digital environments in terms of visual and auditory senses, allowing users to interact with the digital environment through VR devices and provide an immersive experience of “being in the digital world” from a sensory perspective.
What is AR Augmented Reality?
AR (Augmented Reality) is a terminal constructed by overlaying environmental perception, high-precision positioning, optical imaging, and other technologies on the basis of VR.
Realize the dynamic real-time coexistence of virtual information and real environment in the same temporal and spatial picture, bringing users a new experience of “being in reality and surpassing reality”, and achieving “enhancement” of the real world.
AR technology can be implemented in various ways, including using smartphones, tablets, AR glasses, or head mounted devices.
AR technology has a wide range of applications in various fields, including gaming, education, healthcare, design, entertainment, and business.
It provides users with a more immersive and interactive experience, enabling them to interact more closely with the virtual world and information.
Differences in VR/AR Technology
1 Equipment differences
Given that VR is a purely virtual scene, VR equipment is often equipped with position trackers, data gloves, motion capture systems, data helmets, etc., for users to interact with the virtual scene.
AR is a combination of virtual and real-life, so devices are generally equipped with 3D cameras. Strictly speaking, as long as AR software is installed, products with cameras such as smartphones can experience AR.
2 Technical differences
The core of VR is the application of various graphics technologies, which are currently the most widely used in the gaming field, with a focus on immersion and high requirements for GPU performance.
AR emphasizes the restoration of human visual functions and applies a lot of computer vision technology to 3D model and reprocess real scenes, emphasizing the processing power of CPUs.
3 Application scenarios
The virtual reality characteristics of VR make it immersive and private, which determines its natural advantages in fields such as gaming, entertainment, and educational socialization.
The augmented reality characteristics of AR determine that it is more inclined to interact with reality and is suitable for fields such as life, work, and production.
Principles of VR Technology
VR devices mainly do three things:
1 Expansion of vision
Expand the visual range of the human eye through convex lenses. At present, VR glasses generally expand the user’s field of view to between 90-120 degrees.
This field of view is sufficient to create a sense of immersion for users, that is, to create an immersive visual environment.
2 Induction of head rotation
Sensing the rotation of the user’s head through a gyroscope. Based on the rotation angle and direction of the user’s head, the screen is refreshed in real-time, creating a 360 degree three-dimensional spatial sensation for the user.
3 Generation of Stereoscopic Perception in Images
When a person’s eyes see the same object, the images obtained due to the angle issue are slightly different. These two images are integrated by the brain’s information to form a three-dimensional information about the observed object, including distance and level of the object.
VR utilizes the working principle of the human eye. VR devices display a graphic for each of the user’s eyes, and different images of the same object are processed by the user’s brain to produce a stereoscopic visual effect.
By doing the above three points well, we can meet the core requirements of VR, which is immersive user visual experience.
Principles of AR Technology
AR system architecture diagram:
A typical AR system structure consists of a virtual scene generation unit, a transmissive helmet display, a head tracking device, and an interactive device.
The virtual scene generation unit is responsible for modeling, managing, drawing, and managing other peripherals of the virtual scene; The transmissive helmet display is responsible for displaying the signal after the fusion of virtual and reality; Head tracking devices track changes in the user’s line of sight; Interactive devices are used to input and output sensory signals and environmental control operation signals.
The AR system structure is mainly divided into four parts:
(1) Virtual Scene Generation Unit
(2) User visual tracking unit, typically a helmet mounted display
(3) Virtual real fusion processing unit, which is also the core difference of AR/VR
(4) Interactive device unit
VR/AR Technology in 2024: 6 Significant Trends
The growth of AR/VR wearable devices
Sports tracking devices and smartwatches were once the pinnacle of wearable technology, but now they are just the tip of the iceberg.
With the emergence of AR/VR and the highly anticipated launch of Apple’s Vision Pro, wearable devices have been elevated to a whole new level.
At present, the proliferation of devices developed by major technology companies such as Asus AirVision M1, Valve Index, Meta Quest Pro highlights the increasing popularity of wearable devices by 2024.
It can be predicted that more ergonomic and affordable wearable technology models will emerge soon.
In organizational environments, especially in manufacturing, AR projections provided by wearable devices can display the gradual production process from assembly, inspection to maintenance in a high-quality simulated form.
This helps with effective cross departmental communication and reduces optimization time. The proliferation of these devices provides unprecedented opportunities for businesses from different industries to explore their own new use cases and drive organizational performance.
Mixed Reality (MR) Year
The fusion of AR and VR, commonly known as mixed reality (MR), is expected to make significant progress in 2024.
As traditional virtual reality headsets evolve into devices with mixed reality capabilities – taking Meta Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro as examples – a new era of mixed experience has officially emerged.
In addition, integrating multi sensory technology can enhance the mixed reality experience and promote more authentic and memorable interactions.
In the fields of entertainment and experimentation, this potential combination can provide dynamic interaction between the subject and the environment, and enable comprehensive data collection.
Opportunities for application developers
The increasing adoption rate of VR/AR by individuals and businesses, as well as the popularity of wearable devices, indicate a new demand for applications specifically designed for this technology. This has opened up new avenues for mobile application development companies to make profits.
The adopters of this technology are no longer limited to entertainment and gaming, and can seek an application that goes from health to productivity.
Immersive – PICO 4’s VR application enables remote collaboration and brainstorming meetings.
One thing application developers need to remember is that cross platform compatibility should be one of the top priorities to ensure seamless integration and wider adoption between devices.
Fusion Generative AI: Collaborative Future
VR/AR content may require a lot of time to produce, but now the situation has changed and generative artificial intelligence has emerged.
Generative AI can generate designs faster than human manual labor, saving significant costs, simplifying the development of VR/AR content, and helping businesses introduce experiences to users earlier.
In the gaming industry, VR experiences can also benefit greatly from the collaboration of generative AI.
Game developers do not need to invest huge resources in scene construction and character design, but can use the powerful capabilities of generative artificial intelligence to create highly personalized and dynamically adjusted game content, allowing them to focus their energy on the overall game architecture and strategic planning.
Game developers can also use generative AI to quickly generate diverse game element variants, experiment and flexibly customize game experiences for different player groups, all thanks to the amazing speed and efficiency of generative AI in design and creation.
With the deep integration of these two technologies, game developers will have endless opportunities to effectively immerse players in more attractive ways. By 2024, the tedious and time-consuming game design process will become history.
From physical stores to borderless workspaces
With the emergence of AR/VR, the dynamic pattern of the office is on the brink of change. From redefining traditional workplaces to revolutionary training programs, these innovations will reshape employees’ perception and engagement with the corporate environment.
When it comes to workspaces, VR/AR introduces the concept of virtual collaboration, freeing teams from geographical limitations and cultivating a global workforce.
3D avatars will replace physical existence, while dynamic 3D presentations will replace static slides, making remote collaboration feel more natural than ever before.
As hybrid and remote work become increasingly common in 2024, the “borderless” workspace achieved by VR/AR can provide significant operational efficiency for businesses.
At the same time, with the creation of immersive learning environments and interactive simulations in VR/AR, training modes have undergone significant changes. Remote training and onboarding have become a reality, providing companies with a cost-effective and globally applicable method for employee development.
Thoroughly changing healthcare through AR/VR
Driven by technological advancements, demographic changes, and emerging patient demands, the global healthcare sector is undergoing an unprecedented period of transformation.
VR/AR is increasingly being used for medical training, providing immersive simulations to enhance the skills and confidence of healthcare professionals. For example, VR/AR anatomical visualization can guide surgeons to achieve maximum accuracy during surgery.
In addition, this technology is promoting the advancement of remote consultation and telemedicine, making healthcare more convenient and personalized.
VR/AR will also play a key role in supporting mental health, and this field will receive more attention in 2024.
With the advancement of AR technology and hardware, devices may become more compact and wearable, and smart glasses and other devices will become increasingly lightweight and comfortable.
This will make AR more user-friendly and practical for operators, enabling hands-free operation and better integration into existing workflows.
Whether for the industry or individuals, it can be said that VR and AR, as they have demonstrated in the world of technology, actually have broad prospects and countless possibilities.