Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality Explained

Virtual reality means entirely replacing the reality you see around you with computer-generated 3D content. With head-mounted displays for VR, also known as virtual reality headsets, you’re completely immersed in the virtual simulation and cut off from the real world. This allows you to freely customize and create as many different experiences and scenarios as needed and, depending on the device, you can interact with virtual contents and objects using your hands or with your eyes.

VR headsets can be tethered to a PC, enabling a more powerful graphics. Alternatively, VR headsets can be untethered, which lowers the visual quality but allows the user to move around freely without wires. The virtual experience that you see can be anything between a photogrammetric capture of the real reality or a computer-generated scene that is 3D modeled and built with a gaming engine.

While VR headsets can provide fairly immersive experiences, they also place limitations on the space where the headset is used as the user’s ability to interact with real-world objects is limited. Collaboration with your (physical) colleagues is also limited as communicating with them and using devices in the same shared space are difficult.

When to use Virtual Reality technology?

Virtual reality (VR) is best used in cases where professionals want to experience a completely simulated environment, including training and simulation, architecture, or immersive entertainment.

Varjo VR-3 virtual reality headset

Augmented reality (AR) means that the user is experiencing the real reality while certain virtual elements are projected on top of it. A typical use of AR in the consumer space is smartphone applications, but there the field of view is limited by the size of the the mobile device, it occupies the users hand, and the experience is much less immersive than with a headset as you are restricted to a flat screen. These kinds of simple solutions can work great for some use cases such as games or entertainment (e.g. Pokemon Go and Snapchat filters).

Most of today’s augmented reality headsets use optical see-through based glasses that create holographic images to float in front of your eyes in a narrow, augmented window. The problem is, these images are hazy and ghostlike, because optical see-through devices can only display light, not black or opaque content. AR headsets must also make big compromises on field of view, resolution, or both.

Currently, AR glasses aren’t anywhere near reaching the goal of “hard AR.” What AR glasses or goggles lack in visual detail, they often make up for it in portability and light weight. Some AR glasses are also wireless, allowing users to wear and use them outside in the field.

P.S. If you’ve seen demo videos of AR content that does not appear translucent, this is probably because they are direct video material, not shot-through material from the headset screen. This makes the virtual objects look much better and less transparent than they actually do when using them in real situations and lighting conditions.

When to use Augmented Reality technology?

Augmented Reality (AR) works great for scenarios where the device or glasses need to be light-weight, especially when you need an active presence and constant eye contact to your real surroundings. Example scenarios include customer service, maintenance and logistics.

Mixed reality (MR/XR) combines the best aspects of both VR and AR. It is all about merging virtual content with the real world in an interactive, immersive way. In Mixed Reality, virtual objects appear as a natural part of the real world, occluding behind real objects. Real objects can also influence the shadows and lights of virtual contents. This natural interaction between real and virtual opens up a whole new realm of solutions that would not be possible with virtual or augmented reality.

Mixed Reality gives the ability to see yourself and interact with your colleagues while (for example) designing a virtual object or environment. For Mixed Reality to be valuable for professionals, it has to be convincing – blending real and virtual content to the point that it’s impossible to tell where reality ends and the virtual world begins. Mixed reality is best accomplished with video pass-through technology instead of optical see-through. With video pass-through based solutions, virtual objects can be black or opaque, and appear as solid as anything in the real world. Colors are perfectly rendered, appear just as they should and you can also add, omit and adjust colors, shadows and light in the virtual world and the real world.

All of this means that you need fairly powerful computer hardware to run these experiences. However, recent advancements in the technology have made it achievable with high-end consumer desktops so any business now has the capacity to adopt mixed reality solutions, and the business impact can be astounding. For example, Kia was able to speed up their design review process by a staggering 99%, going from several days to one hour to complete a review.

When to use Mixed Reality (XR) technology?

Mixed Reality combines the power of AR and VR. It works best in situations where you need to interact with real-world controllers and objects or collaborate with your colleagues while experiencing virtual contents, such as designs or simulations. Video pass-through-based Mixed Reality also allows the switch back to “real” reality with a click of a button.

Extended Reality devices (XR), such as Varjo, allow you to choose your level of virtuality freely in the experiences you decide to create. You can jump from 100 % real to a fully synthetic environment and back – or anywhere in between.

Simple example of how real and virtual elements can be blended with the Varjo XR-3 mixed reality headset.

Want to learn more?

Interested in using immersive technologies in your business but still not sure where to get started? Don’t worry, we have plenty of resources to help you further!