Virtual, augmented and mixed reality are revolutionary technologies that promise to transform the future. But after all, what are these technologies?

Virtual reality (VR) allows users to immerse themselves in a fully immersive virtual environment, simulating the feeling of being somewhere else. On the other hand, augmented reality (AR) mixes virtual elements with the real world, superimposing digital information on the physical environment. Mixed reality (MR) combines elements of virtual and augmented reality, allowing user interactions with virtual objects in the real world.

These technologies offer countless possibilities in different areas, from entertainment, education, to business and medicine. We are just beginning to explore the promising future of these technologies.

Apple unveils Vision Pro, mixed reality glasses

Apple announced Vision Pro, its mixed reality glasses, which offer control through your eyes, hands and voice. These devices will be available for sale in the US in early 2024. Additionally, the company also revealed new versions of its computers.

At this Monday's event (5), Apple officially presented virtual reality glasses called Vision Pro. With this new feature, the company enters the mixed reality segment, in which competitors such as Meta, owner of Facebook, have invested. The Vision Pro features two 4K screens, one on each lens, allowing users to see their surroundings while exploring the system. A feature called EyeSight allows the display to become transparent, allowing others to see the user's eyes.

On the other hand, when the intention is to focus only on the system, it is possible to block the view of the external environment. This way, the Environments feature displays landscapes as wallpapers, allowing you to perform this action. The device also has cameras and microphones for recording videos and capturing 3D photos, and are used to create digital Personas during video calls.

New operating system created especially for augmented reality

Apple developed the visionOS operating system especially for the Vision Pro, which supports a wide variety of applications. The device has two chips: the M2, launched in 2022, and the new R1, which processes the information captured by 12 cameras, 5 sensors and 6 microphones present in the glasses. Apple CEO Tim Cook has called the Vision Pro a “spatial computing” device, saying it’s the company’s first where you look through it, not at it.

While mixed reality is not new, with Google Glass being one of the most well-known devices released in 2012, it has faced a number of privacy issues. The product was considered one of the best inventions of that year, but it ended up failing.

Differences compared to Google Glass

The new Apple Vision Pro and the previously released Google Glass have significant differences in their functionality and features.

While Apple's Vision Pro offers a mixed reality experience with eye, hand and voice control, Google Glass was one of the first devices to explore augmented reality. Additionally, the Vision Pro has two 4K screens, one on each lens, providing immersive viewing, whereas Google Glass had a single small screen above the field of view.

But what are they and what is the difference between augmented, virtual and mixed reality technologies?

Technology is constantly evolving and has provided incredible advances in various sectors. Among the most fascinating innovations are virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). These technologies have the power to create immersive and interactive experiences, transforming the way we interact with the digital and real world. In this article, we will explore what these technologies are and what the differences between them are.

Virtual reality

Virtual reality is a technology that allows users to immerse themselves in a completely virtual environment. Therefore, users are transported to a simulated digital world when using devices such as VR glasses. In other words, they can interact and explore in an immersive way. This immersion is possible thanks to the combination of 3D images, sounds and even tactile sensations.

There are several VR devices available on the market, from the simplest, such as card glasses attached to a smartphone, to the most sophisticated, such as high-resolution headsets with motion tracking. In this way, each device offers a unique experience, varying in terms of immersion and interactivity.

Currently, virtual reality has been widely applied in areas such as games, health, training, simulations, virtual tourism and even therapeutic treatments. It provides an immersive experience that transports users to realistic virtual scenarios, allowing them to experience situations in a safe and controlled way.

Augmented Reality

Firstly, augmented reality combines elements of the real world with virtual elements, superimposing digital information on the physical environment in real time. Unlike virtual reality, which transports users into an entirely virtual world, augmented reality allows users to interact with virtual elements as they view the world around them.

In this way, augmented reality devices, such as glasses or smartphones, use cameras and sensors to capture the physical environment and then project digital information onto it. In other words, this information can range from simple virtual objects to assembly instructions in a manual, for example.

Augmented reality is widely adopted across different market sectors. Since it offers an innovative way to visualize and interact with digital information in a contextualized way, becoming a powerful communication and learning tool.

Mixed Reality

Mixed reality combines elements of virtual reality and augmented reality to create a hybrid environment that merges the real world and the virtual world in an interactive way. In this type of environment, users can interact with both virtual and real elements around them.

Thus, mixed reality devices such as Microsoft HoloLens use advanced sensors and algorithms to map and track the physical environment, enabling precise overlay of virtual objects on top of real elements. In other words, it means that users can interact with virtual objects in a more natural way, moving freely through the physical environment.

Mixed reality has found promising applications in areas such as product design, architecture, medicine and entertainment. It allows users to visualize and manipulate virtual objects in real time, making it a powerful tool for creation, collaboration and learning.

Differences between reality technologies

Initially, although virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality share the objective of providing immersive experiences, there are important differences between them.

In terms of immersion, virtual reality offers the deepest experience. In this way, users are transported to a completely virtual environment. Augmented reality, in turn, keeps users aware of the physical environment while overlaying virtual elements. Mixed reality combines virtual and real elements in an interactive way, allowing a more integrated experience.

Another difference is the overlap of virtual and real elements. In virtual reality, virtual elements completely replace the real environment. In augmented reality, virtual elements are projected onto the physical environment. In other words, adding digital information to the real world. In mixed reality, virtual elements are superimposed on the physical environment and interact with it.

The Future of Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality

In conclusion, virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies are constantly evolving and promise to further transform the way we interact with the digital and real world. With continued technological advancements, these technologies are expected to become more accessible, immersive, and powerful.

In the future, we can expect more compact, high-resolution VR devices with greater visual and sensory fidelity. Augmented reality will likely become more integrated into our everyday mobile devices, offering more immersive and contextualized experiences. Mixed reality also has the potential to become more accurate and intuitive, enabling more natural and sophisticated interactions.

These technologies have the potential to impact diverse industries, from the entertainment and gaming industry to medicine, education, architecture and more. They can revolutionize how we learn, work, play and communicate.

In short, virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality are exciting technologies that are shaping the future. With their unique features and varied applications, they are opening up new possibilities and offering immersive experiences that were previously only possible in our imaginations.