As you know, the Metaverse is a much broader concept than just a virtual game, combining virtual reality (VR), Augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), blockchain, web3, cryptocurrencies, social networks, etc. It's a rapidly evolving adjacent reality.
VR, AR, and MR are among the most important elements of the Metaverse, providing users with an inherently immersive 3D virtual experience, but let's find out what exactly they are.
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR is probably the term most people are familiar with. VR refers to a 3D and computer-generated virtual environment that reproduces a real environment or an imaginary world. It is created by a combination of realistic sounds, images, and other sensations through devices. Equipment such as VR headsets/helmets, gloves and body detectors equipped with sensory detectors.
Real VR examples:
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Several well-known fashion brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, offer their customers an immersive 360- degree experience of fashion shows using in-store virtual reality headsets.
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Toms, the shoes company, used VR technology to launch a digital donation campaign started by giving away a new pair of shoes to children in need with every pair of shoes purchased. The company's employees and partners will then travel the world on this gifting trip and give shoes to the children directly. By partnering with tech company VR within, Toms can invite their customers on a charity trip, witness children receive shoes and see their reactions when using viertual reality headsets at shop. Customers can even virtually meet the recipient and see their living conditions
Augmented Reality (AR)
AR is a live view of the physical environment with its elements enhanced by digital sensory input such as audio, graphics, video, or GPS data. In other words, AR exists on top of our physical world by allowing users to see the actual environment through their phone/tablet screen or by using smart glasses and real life.
Through the phone/tablet camera or smart glasses, apps can bring an overlay of digital content into our actual environment. This technology does not take into account the user's surroundings or require interaction with the user's space, it rests on any surface, with our physical world acting as a static background for it. Some well-known AR examples are Pokemen Go, Snapchat filters, virtual makeup and furniture.
Real-life examples of AR:
Pokenmon Go is perhaps the most famous example of AR. The game was first introduced in 2016 and very quickly enjoyed by people of all ages to this day. The main task of the game is that the user has to travel around the real world to locate and "catch" the game characters that almost appear around. I'm sure you've seen people playing Pokemon Go on their phones, standing in certain spots in groups where cartoon characters are featured. However, with the help of AR, the user experience becomes more realistic and engaging.
Mixed Reality (MR)
MR is sometimes called hybrid reality, it is the fusion of virtual and physical worlds to create a new environment where interactions between virtual and physical objects are enabled in real time. Unlike VR, which immerses the user in a completely virtual environment, or AR, which simply overlays digital content on top of the physical environment without considering its unique and variable composition. Instead, MR devices continuously collect new information that occurs in the surrounding environment. Such information is useful to be able to place digital content seamlessly in a physical environment and users can interact with it. MR combines both virtual and physical worlds, where virtual and real are blended.
Real life example of MR
Education: Through MR, students learning experience and effectiveness are enhanced by enhancing their engagement through hands-on learning rather than traditional visual or audio learning methods.
While there are still a lot of questions about how the Metaverse will work in the future, we affirm that VR/AR/MR technology will definitely play an essential role in the formation of the Metaverse and the future.
Expect to see positive growth of the market in the next few years. After all, if the Metaverse is a combination of the virtual world, then VR/AR/MR technology is the way to get us there.