Augmented Reality(AR), Virtual Reality(VR), Mixed Reality(MR), Extended Reality(XR) and its Industrial Applications

Today's world is strongly digitally enabled, such that the distinction between reality and digital is fuzzy. This fact strongly infers the fact of increased adoption of digital technology. Virtual Reality (VR) is a completely immersive technology, which is the approximation of reality, but not the exact reality. It is extensively used by 3-D Artists, Architects, Real Estate Agents, Teachers, Students and Astronauts. Augmented Reality (AR) is an enhancement of real world, where the real environment is augmented (supplemented) with computer generated images. AR/VR directly influences the perception of human mind in an obvious way. Augmented Reality synergizes digital and virtual information with real world. Mixed reality includes augmented reality, augmented virtuality, and other mixed configurations. 

Recent advancements in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, has given rise to the advent of Extended Reality (XR). Extended Reality (XR) is a single “bundle term” incorporating Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR) and all the other reality-related stuffs. Virtual Reality (VR) applications employ headsets, so that the end-users get entirely immersed in the computer-simulated environment. Headsets are employed to create sounds and project images, making the user engage his/her five senses to submerge in a virtually-interactive world. The definition of Augmented Reality goes as, “Augmented Reality (AR) is an enhanced version of reality, where “live” direct or indirect views of physical real-world environments are augmented (built-upon)  with super-imposed computer-generated images with user’s view of the real world, thus enhancing one’s current perception of reality”. Unlike Virtual Reality, this requires the user to immerse entirely in a virtual environment, augmented reality overlays a virtual environment, above already existing concrete environment. Augmented Reality could readily be experienced by the end-user in mobile phones/tablets rather-than going for headphones. Pokemon Go game and Snapchat filters are few common examples that adopt Augmented Reality Technology.

Mixed Reality (MR) as the name indicates, is the hybridization of real and virtual world, thereby providing an excellent Human-Computer Interface (HCI). Technically, Mixed Reality (MR) lie approximately in-between physical reality and digital reality. Mixed Reality overlays the content in the physical environment and also the content in the interactive virtual environment, in the sense that, the end users can manipulate the virtual objects in the physical space. Extended Reality (XR) is the “umbrella term” which encompasses, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) as well as the forthcoming futuristic realities. Few of the most promising areas where Extended Reality (XR) could be applied in future are: Marketing and Advertising fields, Training and Education sectors, Healthcare Sector, Manufacturing and Automotive sectors, Real Estate Business and Establishing Remote Working Environments.