The Difference Between ‘VR’ And ‘AR’ Technologies Explained [Infographic]

The phrases “virtual reality” (VR) and “augmented reality” (AR) get thrown around quite a bit in tech circles. If you’ve been keeping your distance from these emerging technologies and aren’t sure what the difference is, this infographic provides a beginner-friendly primer.

VR and AR can both be utilised for a wealth of gaming and business applications, which has made them a hot product for startups. While there is quite a lot of crossover between VR and AR technologies, it’s inaccurate to use both terms interchangeably. The main difference is that VR transports you into an interactive digital environment, while AR overlays digital elements over your existing environment.

The most well-known examples of virtual reality are probably the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. For AR, it’s the Microsoft HoloLens and Google Glass (which is attempting to make a comeback).

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/01/build-your-own-google-glass-style-wearable-computer/” thumb=”https://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18aasetmo1a3gjpg/original.jpg” title=”Build Your Own Google Glass-Style Wearable Computer” excerpt=”If you’re not one of the lucky few to get in on Google’s Project Glass, but you like the idea of a wearable computer that records video and can show you contextual information in real time, you don’t have to wait until Google’s version hits the markets. IEEE Spectrum’s Rod Furlan built his — here’s how you can too.”]

The infographic below from LumusVision attempts to outline the key differences that set VR apart from its AR counterpart. It also breaks down some of the most popular hardware and software options, the inner workings of both technologies and the ridiculous amount of money they are expected to generate over the coming years.

[Via LumusVision]