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The Difference between VR and AR

As a Digital Agency working together with customers from all kinds of industries and backgrounds, we have become used to the fact that the digital landscape are always transforming. There are many new tools on the block, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). Now you probably heard about both of these technologies, but do you know the actual difference between the both?

Augmented Reality is a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment where the elements inside are “augmented” by computer-generated sensory inputs such as graphic, video, sound or location data fetched from GPS. AR depends on the real world, and change or modify it.

Virtual Reality can transport a user into an imaginary reality for entertainment and let the user have a unique experience outside their own reality. While AR simulates the physical world around the user but implements computer-generated objects VR can operate independently without any dependencies from “real life”. VR can create and show something that doesn’t exist without any connection to the real world at all.

Descripton of the differences between VR AND AR
How to make use of VR and AG?
As these technologies have matured over time, and the price for the equipment has become more reasonable to normal consumers now, brands have to start to use both VR and AR to transform their customer’s impression of them and increase the interaction between the consumer and the brand. Imagine walking into your local travel agency and being able to put on a VR-set and walk around in the hotel room you are about too book or take a stroll at the nearby beach.

A brilliant example
Last year Marriott put out something they called the honeymoon booth outside New York City’s courthouse, trying to get newlywed couples to step in and putting on their VR-headset, if they did so they could go to visit the Eiffel tower or Petronas tower in Malaysia, and of course, have a look at the rooms provided by Marriott Hotel. The booth did not only incorporate a VR-headset but other sensory experiences such as artificial sun, moist and wind to create a full experience for the visitor.

Marriots VR campain downtown New York

Making the most out of AG
The cool guys over at Rattle helped Pepsi Max to create a magic mirror right around Halloween. They then put it up inside a public bathroom, as soon as someone looked them self in the mirror they were up for a shock! with help of AR there face got morphed into all kind of crazy ways. This campaign is yet another brilliant example how to utilize new technology such as VR and AR.

Pepsi made good use of Augumented Reality

Click on the picture to launch the YouTube Video

What do the consumers say?
The company Greenlight Insights that are one if industry leaders in business intelligence for the virtual and augmented reality global market suggest in their latest survey that 53 percent of respondents said they’d be more likely to purchase from a brand that uses VR than from one that doesn’t. “We’re seeing specific VR activities have unique emotional footprints, offering fascinating insights for those who are considering their VR strategies,” Steve Marshall, VP of research and consulting for Greenlight VR.

2016 VIRTUAL REALITY CONSUMER ADOPTION REPORT

If you are curious VR ar AR or have already taken the decision to interact with the latest mediums in the market, feel free to reach out to us at Volo for advice and help with organizing your next successful campaign!