The Meta company, as its name suggests, is one of those that is betting the most on the Metaverse . We talked about Horizon Workrooms and its Meta Watch smartwatch some time ago , but its latest launch related to the Metaverse is, no more and no less, a WhatsApp update that allows the app to be integrated with the Meta Quest virtual reality glasses, which we will talk about later.
Young man using controller and virtual reality glasses
Differences between virtual reality and augmented reality
You've probably heard these terms many times and you're not quite sure what they mean, or you've even come to think that they refer to the same thing. Although both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are closely related to the Metaverse, let's look at the differences between them.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are immersive technologies that offer digital experiences. While AR is a combination of the digital world with physical elements to create an artificial environment, VR is a computer-generated simulation that shows an alternative world.
Immersive experience
As we have said, virtual reality creates a completely virtual environment that immerses the user in a simulated experience . Augmented reality, on the other hand, superimposes virtual elements on the user's real environment.
Interaction with the environment
In VR, the user is completely immersed in a virtual world and interaction with the environment is primarily done through controllers or joysticks that detect the user's movements. In AR, the user interacts with the real environment and virtual objects are superimposed in real time, allowing for more direct interaction with the existing physical environment.
Context
Virtual reality is used especially in entertainment numero de celular coreano applications, such as games or training simulations. On the other hand, augmented reality is used in a variety of contexts, such as industrial applications or for education, medicine and advertising.
Level of immersion in the Metaverse
While in virtual reality the immersion is total and users feel completely transported to a virtual environment, in augmented reality users remain aware of their physical surroundings while seeing the virtual elements superimposed on them.
Main utility
VR primarily focuses on providing an immersive and engaging experience to explore and experience virtual situations . On the other hand, AR focuses on enriching and improving the existing reality by adding additional information to the environment.
Technological requirements
To immerse yourself in virtual reality you will need specific devices , such as the famous VR glasses, which are usually heavier and more expensive. On the other hand, augmented reality can be experienced through more common devices, such as smartphones.
Level of realism
Virtual reality seeks to recreate virtual environments as realistic as possible, using 3D graphics and surround sound to generate a 100% immersive experience. Augmented reality, on the other hand, does not necessarily seek to achieve a high level of realism, since different degrees of interactivity and appearance can be achieved.
Your entire life is a virtual reality because you are seeing it only as it happens in your mind - Sadhguru
Apple Vision Pro VR headset
We've been hearing about augmented reality and virtual reality glasses for a while now. Meta was the first big company to launch into the world of the Metaverse with the first version of its glasses, which it called Oculus . Later, its later versions adopted the name Meta Quest Pro with a price starting at €449.
Apple did not want to be left behind and has launched its first mixed reality glasses , that is, valid for augmented reality and virtual reality; which will be available in 2024 for the price of $3,499 in the United States. The Apple Vision Pro glasses include 12 cameras and 6 microphones, and you will need to carry an external battery with you for their operation with up to 3 hours of autonomy.