Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Introduction

Civil engineering, a field responsible for designing and constructing infrastructure that shapes our cities and societies, is undergoing a transformative revolution. VR and AR technologies are revolutionizing the civil engineers visualize, design, and construct projects. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, our perception of reality is being reshaped by immersive experiences. virtual Reality (VR)and Augmented Reality (AR) have emerged as groundbreaking technologies bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds.

What is meant by Virtual Reality in detail explanation and how it operates.

The terms “virtual reality” and “augmented reality” get thrown around a lot. VR headsets, such as the Oculus Quest or Valve Index, and AR apps and games, such as Pokémon Go, are still popular. They sound similar, and as the technologies develop, they bleed into each other a bit. But they’re two very different concepts, with characteristics that readily distinguish one from the other.VR headsets completely take over your vision to give you the impression that you’re somewhere else. The HTC Vive Cosmos, the PlayStation VR, the Oculus Quest, the Valve Index, and other headsets are opaque, blocking out your surroundings when you wear them. If you put them on when they’re turned off, you might think you’re blindfolded. When the headsets turn on, however, the LCD or OLED panels inside are refracted by the lenses to fill your field of vision with whatever is being displayed. It can be a game, a 360-degree video, or just the virtual space of the platforms’ interfaces. Visually, you’re taken to wherever the headset wants you to go—the outside world is replaced with a virtual one. Tethered VR headsets, such as the Index and PS VR, and standalone VR headsets, such as the Quest 2, use six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) motion tracking.That tech comes courtesy of external sensors or cameras (for the Index and PS VR) or outward-facing cameras (for the Quest 2). This means the headsets don’t just detect the direction in which you’re facing, but any movement you make in those directions. This, combined with 6DOF motion controllers, lets you move around in a virtual space, with virtual hands. This space is usually limited to a few square meters across, but it’s much more immersive than just standing still and looking in different directions. The drawback is that you need to be careful not to trip over any cable that connect the headset to your computer or game system.

What is meant by Augmented Reality?

Whereas virtual reality replaces your vision, augmented reality adds to it. AR devices, such as the Microsoft HoloLens and various enterprise-level “smart glasses,” are transparent, letting you see everything in front of you as if you are wearing a weak pair of sunglasses. The technology is designed for free movement, while projecting images over whatever you look at.The concept extends to smartphones with AR apps and games, such as Pokémon Go, which use your phone’s camera to track your surroundings and overlay additional information on top of it, on the screen. AR displays can offer something as simple as a data overlay that shows the time, to something as complicated as holograms floating in the middle of a room. Pokémon Go projects a Pokémon on your screen, on top of whatever the camera is looking at. The HoloLens and other smart glasses, meanwhile, let you virtually place floating app windows and 3D decorations around you. This technology has a distinct disadvantage compared with virtual reality: visual immersion. While VR completely covers and replaces your field of vision, AR apps only show up on your smartphone or tablet screen, and even the HoloLens can only project images in a limited area in front of your eyes. It isn’t very immersive when a hologram disappears once it moves out of a rectangle in the middle of your vision, or when you must stare at a small screen while pretending that the object on that screen is in front of you.

Difference between AR and VR? Augmented Reality and virtual reality.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality enhances the real-world environment by overlaying digital information or virtual objects on to the physical world. AR devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or smart glasses, uses cameras or sensors to perceive the real world and superimpose virtual elements on to it. These virtual elements can include 3D objects, text, images, or animations. AR allows users to interact with both the real and virtual worlds simultaneously, enhancing their perception and understanding of the environment. popular examples include Pokémon Go, Snapchat filters, and furniture placement apps and software.

Virtual Reality (VR).

Virtual reality immerses users in a completely simulated, computer-generated environment. VR typically involves wearing a headset that covers the user’s eyes and ears, blocking out the real world. The VR headset displays a digital world that responds to the user’s environments, creating a sense of presence and immersion. users can interact with this virtual environment through controllers, hand gestures, or other input devices. VR applications are commonly in gaming, simulations, training, 3D designs and entertainment experiences, allowing users to explore and interact with the virtual worlds that can be entirely different from the real world. example such as the Oculus Quest or Valve Index.

Bullet differences between AV and VR.

• AR enhances the real world by overlaying virtual elements while VR creates a fully immersive digital environment.
• AR supplements and enhances the user’s perception of the real world, while VR replaces the user’s perception with a virtual environment.
• AR applications are often integrated into existing devices like smartphones, while VR requires specialized hardware like headset.
• AR is used to enhance real-world experience, provide information, and facilitate interactions, while VR is primarily used for immersive entertainment, training and simulation.