The Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are transforming the way we interact with the world. They combine digital elements and the real world (AR) or create fully immersive virtual spaces (VR) and offer new possibilities in many fields, substituting and amplifying real experience. The AR/VR development is opening up new frontiers in the entertaining, industrial, medical, learning and interior design sector.

Augmented Reality (AR) What it is and related application fields

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that combines digital elements with the real world, improving the user experience through visual, hearing or sensory overlapping. The first AR visor was created by Ivan Sutherland in 1966, using two cathode-ray tubes that project images onto the eyes. The device was so heavy that it had to be hung from the ceiling. Though it was very rudimental it was the beginning of a new era that led to modern AR technology.

Indeed AR has come a long way since then, being applied in different sectors. In the marketing sector, for example, it allows customers to visualize products in an interactive way before purchasing. In the learning field AR is used to create more interesting lessons with interacting explanations and activities as well as to help students to visualize complex concepts through 3D models. In the medical field AR is used to improve surgical procedures providing doctors with information during operations in real time. A popular example of AR application is Pokémon Go that led millions of people all over the world to interact with virtual creatures in their real environment.

Virtual Reality (VR) what the functions and applications of VR are

Virtual Reality (VR) creates fully digital spaces in which users can navigate and interact. This technology was developed in the 80s with the creation of the first flight simulators. In the 90s companies like Sega and Nintendo started to explore the possibility of using VR in video games, though with little success because of the technological limitations of the time.

Nowadays VR is used in many sectors. In the entertainment industry VR Visors, like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, offer an immersive gaming experience that takes players into very detailed virtual worlds. As to military training and flying simulation VR allows creating spaces in which it is possible to train in a safe and controlled way. In architecture and design, VR allows architects to create and navigate in virtual spaces that reproduce their architectural and interior design projects to offer a very detailed visualization before constructing. VR is used to simulate surgical procedures allowing doctors to train before the operation in a safe and controlled way.

Mixed Reality (MR) combines Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality

Mixed Reality (MR) combines AR elements with VR elements allowing real and digital objects to coexist and interact in real time. This technology has developed from previous ones putting together the best results of both to create a unique interactive experience. MR is particularly useful in professional and industrial fields where effectiveness and precision can be improved.

An example of MR is Microsoft HoloLens, a visor that allows users to see and interact with graphic contents and 3D objects that can be visualized through lenses in the surrounding space. This tool can be used in sectors like engineering or maintenance where it can insert detailed instructions directly onto a machine, reducing errors and improving productivity. MR can be also used in the learning sector where students can interact with complex 3D models in an intuitive and immersive way.

What are the differences between AR, VR and MR?

The main differences between AR, VR and MR include:

• Augmented Reality (AR): it allows visualizing digital elements in the real world. AR is mainly used through devices like smartphones or tablets improving the real experience and adding information or virtual objects that can be seen on a screen.

• Virtual Reality (VR): it creates fully digital spaces that are separated from the physical reality. Users interact with those immersive spaces using ad-hoc visors that plunge them into virtual worlds that have nothing to do with the surrounding reality.

• Mixed Reality (MR): it combines AR and VR elements allowing the interaction between real and digital objects. Users can see and interact with digital objects as if they were real, creating an experience characterized by the fusion between physical and virtual objects.

A table comparing these 3 types of reality can help to better understand the differences between them:

Where are the different realities applied?

AR, VR and MR technology is used in many sectors offering innovative solutions and improving the existing processing. Here some examples of applications

• Marketing and e-commerce: AR allows customers to visualize products in their device before purchasing them. For example IKEA has developed an AR app that allows visualizing furnishing elements as they will appear in users’ houses.

• Tourism sector: VR allows making virtual tours in tourism sites offering potential travelers a preview of their holidays. Museums and historical sites use AR to put information on virtual reconstructions.

• Learning sector: AR and VR make learning more interesting and fun. Students can explore 3D models of molecular structures or travel through time to experience historical events using VR.

• Medical sector: VR is used to simulate surgical procedures while AR helps doctors during operations displaying vital information on the patient.

• Architecture and Design: VR allows architects to navigate in the virtual models of their projects and AR is used to visualize how projects integrate with the real space. In particular, 3D design software like ArredoCAD uses the Real Time rendering technology to offer immersive visualizations of the design projects.

Which devices can be used?

To illustrate the concept even further, it can be useful to list the different devices used for AR and for VR:

Augmented Reality (AR):

• Smartphone
• Tablets
• Smart glasses (for example, Google Glass)

Virtual Reality (VR):

• VR Visors (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive)
• Gaming Consoles with VR support (PlayStation VR)

Mixed Reality (MR):

• Microsoft HoloLens
• Magic Leap

AR and VR: how could they develop in the future?

The future of these technologies is promising, with a potential development in the metaverse and increasingly deeper integrations in our daily lives so that they will probably become an essential part of our lives.

Augmented Reality could become a standard part of mobile devices, used for very different things ranging from navigating in a town to searching for information. Virtual reality could revolutionize sectors like learning, creating immersive virtual classes, or medicine with advanced simulation or training.

Moreover, the concept of metaverse, a shared virtual universe, is drawing increasingly attention so that both AR and VR will play a vital role allowing users to interact in new and innovative ways.

Virtual Reality in ArredoCAD

Besides the ArredoCAD rendering engine there is RealTime Player, based on the Unity technology, allows an immersive high quality experience navigating in 3D projects in real time and interacting with objects as well as modifying light or materials.Thanks to the dedicated integration scenes can be visualized also using visors for VR Oculus / Metaquest.

Moreover, through the plug-in Virtual Tour 360 it is possible to connect different renderings with 360 view creating interactive virtual tours and adding multimedia elements like images, texts, videos, audio files and web links.

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