Virtual reality (VR) technology is widely considered the most powerful weapon to change the human world, poised to permeate every aspect of our lives in the near future. It's arguably one of the most watched cutting-edge technologies today, rapidly developing under the leadership of world-class tech giants. Another highly anticipated technology, augmented reality (AR), is also steadily growing alongside VR. What kind of unspoken relationship exists between AR and VR?
What exactly is VR technology?
VR technology, also known as virtual reality technology or artificial environment, is defined as a computer simulation system developed by integrating multiple fields of technology such as simulation technology, computer graphics, human-computer interface technology, multimedia technology, sensing technology, and network technology. It can create and allow users to experience what they would only have in the real world.
Simply put, VR technology can bring the user's perception into the virtual world it creates, making the user believe that everything in front of them is real.
Regarding AR technology
Liu Tangzhi, Vice President of Skyworth Group and President of its Color TV Business Unit, stated, "Besides the internet, AR and VR technologies will lead the next wave of technological innovation in the next 10 to 20 years." AR is the core of the smart home strategy, and AR augmented reality technology, as the "next big technology," has attracted high attention from leading technology companies both domestically and internationally.
The connection between AR and VR
Compared to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) requires significantly less image processing data. However, its requirements for algorithms, databases, and applications are considerably higher than those for VR. It's not hard to imagine that, with sufficient underlying technology, people can create sophisticated VR programs for users to use and interact with. Games and (fully immersive, interactive) movies will be the most widespread consumer scenarios for VR. But AR's practical application will lag far behind.
First, (undifferentiated) video recognition requires a more powerful database and artificial intelligence. This cannot be accomplished using the mature post-production tools of the gaming or film industries. The technology for practical AR applications in various scenarios is like the birth of photography; using painting to record events and using photography to document reality are completely different things from different eras.
Secondly, VR is a platform, while AR is an application—or rather, an interactive terminal for many applications. This means that the entire technology ecosystem has begun to move from platforms to applications. To put it in an analogy you can understand: VR is like the first-generation iPhone with multi-touch, while AR (with practical consumer value) is like the App Store.
Finally, just as VR's ultimate interaction is "brain implantation," AR's ultimate interaction is media-free projection—similar to the methods Iron Man used in movies to develop his armor and design buildings. This involves turning physical objects into data and turning data into physical objects. The former is 3D scanning, and the latter is 3D printing. From a technological history perspective, the latter only entered more widespread industrial applications more than a decade after the former became popular.
VR is a dream-making industry. Three-dimensional images expand our perceptual space, offering dreams we dare not reach in reality. While it's not perfect yet, it truly needs our nurturing. Hopefully, this introduction has given you more confidence in VR/AR, a more level-headed attitude, and more heartfelt support. Without consumers, VR will struggle to even grow, let alone achieve explosive growth. We need to calm down, temporarily setting aside commercial marketing, and shifting from burning money on marketing to focusing on solid product development. With appropriate marketing strategies, there's no doubt that the future of the VR industry is incredibly bright!
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