AR and VR technologies are a hot craze that every tech company seems to have thrown their hat in the ring for.
While the tech surely can be revolutionary, the space is also something of hot mess. There is a lot of enabling tech that needs to catch up before it can catapult us into the future.
Further, like crypto, while the potential use cases are abundant, it is still commonly referred to as a product in search of a solution.
Perhaps, in June when (hopefully) the Apple Headset finally comes out following delays, we will get a better idea.
Basics
Augmented and virtual reality are two similar, but distinctly different technologies.
As the names imply, one headset augments reality. It's like permanent Snapchat filters on your glasses. Essentially, AR is a digital overlay that alters and adds to, but doesn’t change, the world around you.
Meanwhile, virtual reality is a fully immersive digital world. One where you put the goggles on and escape from reality. To conceptualize, enjoy a video of VR fails as people get a little too immersed and jump into their TVs.
While the line between AR and VR seems well defined, it is blurring some as world-facing cameras continue to pop up on VR headsets. So think of the difference more as, a screen over your eyes that may integrate some of your surroundings so you don’t punch your brother, compared to AR being more “simply” smart glasses.
Use Cases
While AR and VR technology are repeatedly referred to as a solution looking for a problem, the way the two are marketed (by Meta) suggests quite a difference in expected use cases.
Use this Meta commercial as an example. Things that require full immersion - like practicing surgery, visiting ancient Rome in history class, and attending interactive lectures, all have screens on faces.
Meanwhile, things like farmers scanning their land for soil nutrients and other deficiencies to more accurately water and fertilize for improved yields, as well as urban planners collaborating on 3D models in real-time to improve city layouts, are proposed augmented-reality solutions.
I’m not sure how useful the farming one is considering it takes a physical person out on the farm. Current farming innovations are all about automating the process and reducing the need for someone to physically go out and evaluate the condition of their farm. The same thing is being accomplished via large-mounted cameras that can monitor an entire farm at once, 24/7. But I appreciate the example.
Ultimately, it's simulations and gaming vs applications. The more you interact with the world, whether it's with in-person meetings or working on an engine, the more it makes sense to not add that layer between you and what you are interacting with.
Zoom-Out
So what’s more useful?
I certainly see augmented reality as the more powerful technology, at least in the near future.
Why? Well, you crawl before you walk, before you run.
Full immersion is a potential end result, and I don’t discount a “Ready Player One” future from the realm of possibilities. Whereas partial immersion seems like a fancier version of what we already have.
There already is a lot of AR you can use on your phones that people widely enjoy. But ultimately, the thing stopping me from using Google Maps AR is the fear of getting run over. However, the augmented reality navigation system on high-end Mercedes vehicles is actually incredible and useful. Putting this in glasses, or allowing a hand-off, can give true end-to-end navigation.
Further, there are a plethora of companies like Shopify and Amazon that offer augmented reality services that let you view how a piece of furniture would look in your home. Meanwhile, doctors can use similar technology to visually explain what a proposed procedure is or medicine does, and the risks, before simulating what could happen if left alone vs treated. Lastly, places like IKEA could drastically improve building instructions and grocery shopping could be streamlined.
The list is honestly endless.
But as the famous trading adage goes, “when in doubt, zoom out”.
We like to tease Meta for their characters that look straight out of the Nintendo Wii (the Mii avatars). But there are great strides in facial scanning that can help people feel more “in” the metaverse. Improvements like this, on top of consumers getting used to technology being on their faces all the time, could ultimately enable VR as the end result.
Though, simulating touch, smell, etc to really make it a truly immersive experience is something that feels far out.
Now I don’t want to end up on a fence.
The handheld mobile phone was made in 1973. The first smartphone was made in 1994. Though neither was really popular for well over a decade after release. I don’t think true VR adoption breaks that trend, outside of gaming and simulations.
Until AR takes off, VR seems well-off.
