Augmented and Virtual Reality — The Future of Humanity
Arnay K.
Do you ever wish you could visit those relatives that live all the way on the other side of the world? Or wish you could ride a roller coaster from your home? Or maybe you wish you could feel like you’re actually living in that video game you’re playing? Well, all of this and much, much more is possible using Augmented and Virtual Reality.
What are AR/VR?
AR and VR are two very interesting technologies that can change the way humans live. And communicate around the world.
VR, or Virtual Reality is a simulation of a real, 3D world that you can live in and interact with using a device.
Wait, what?
The word Virtual means “Not physically existing” or “Almost real”, and paired with the word Reality is a reality that doesn’t actually exist. This can happen because of headsets, speakers and other technology that triggers our senses. The technology attempts to make the user feel like they’re in a real world by having them able to touch and feel the world they’re in, see it, smell it, hear it, and everything else that makes the world we’re in a reality.
AR, or Augmented Reality is where the reality you’re in is modified and changed in a hybrid of virtual and real life.
This technology lets us see the world we’re in, but with a layer of virtual information on top of it, hence the term Augmented Reality. It does this by technology like clear screens or cameras on a device paired with sensors to make it feel like this virtual world is one with the real life you’re in. This combines the virtual and physical worlds to enhance and improve life and help people around the world.
Why though?
AR and VR have many interesting potential applications. Right now, VR is in its early stages and is being used for more residential uses, such as watching movies, playing games and things like that. It can be used for healthcare, retail, urban planning, real estate, and much more! One interesting potential application of AR and VR is in healthcare. Being able to perform medical procedures and assess patients using AR and VR can be very helpful to the industry (This has already started happening in some places around the world!). It can help people in developing countries who don’t have access to proper healthcare, or people with very contagious diseases or viruses. In all, AR and VR will benefit the world and many different industries in lots of different ways, and can be life changing for many.
Now again, imagine visiting those relatives that live on the other side of the world, riding that roller coaster at home, and everything else that is possible using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. One day, AR and VR can be a reality, and maybe you will be able to enjoy and use these technologies so help others and improve your life.
