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Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: Distinguishing Futuristic Media

The future is bright for both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality alike, but with so much common ground it comes natural for some confusion to arise between the terms. What exactly defines AR and VR? And what about this new concept everyone is talking about – MR? Throughout this post, I'm going to look at what the concepts represent and how to distinguish between these exciting new forms of media. In the end, I will try to tell you how I think the future will be and how MR, AR and VR are used along with cryptocurrencies to create a brand new "lifestyle" we will one day consider to be the standard.

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Virtual Reality: Simulated Multimedia

Virtual Reality (VR) can be defined as an immersive simulation generated by computer simulation or multimedia that replicates or creates an environment, simulating the users’ presence in it and giving them the chance to interact with the simulated world around them. We usually use the term VR to describe every immersive experience, being it resorting to computer simulated content, real world content or a mix of both styles. There are a lot of new devices that allow you to experience VR, and the excitement of the market is palpable. Brands like Google, HTC, Sony and others jump on the bandwagon as they launch their HMDs (also known as Head Mounted Displays) and compete for a slice of this new emerging market.

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“Fake” VR: 360º Video

“Fake” VR got this nickname for being called VR when in reality it doesn’t fulfill the requirements to be categorized in the stratus we defined on the previous paragraph. This concept, 350º Video, consists of immersive clips of the real world, and while each direction is recorded, the one the user views during playback is whatever direction he is staring at. This new media is an immersive experience indeed, but it uses pre-filmed content with no interaction other than controling the POV (Point-of-view). This means that the user doesn’t interact with the world.

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CG-VR: Computer Generated Virtual Reality

VR can be considered a generalistic term that encompasses a lot of smaller concepts, one of these being CG VR. This type of content isn’t natural, being completely computer generated as the name so implies. I thought it was important to mention this category because some experts and industry leaders argue that it can be interchangeable with the term of 360º video, simply because most of it is pre-rendered non-reactive. This takes interactivity out of the question. On the other hand, there are plenty of CG-VR projects that allow the user to interact with his surroundings, so there’s a debate going on about this media’s categorization.

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Augmented Reality: A Direct View

AR, or Augmented Reality, is the existence of a real world environment with added (or augmented) elements though computer generated input. What this means is that you’re talking about AR when you get sound, graphics, video and other kinds of media added to your layer of reality. If you’re looking to your cellphone and a GUI Pops out of nowhere telling you about its battery level, then that is Augmented Reality. This is one of the most exciting areas of the future of AR, VR, MR, simply because it offers the potential to revolutionize all of the world’s industries. Imagine a mechanic using it to spot faulty parts or you not having to ask for his help because AR tells you how to replace that same part yourself

Mixed Reality: A Mix of Both Worlds

Finally, the last concept to approach is MR. MR is simply “Mixed Reality” and encompasses a mix of any of these elements. This is probably the future as I can see a lot of ways for all of them to play out together, using the advantages of all media while trying to hide away the inherent flaws of those as well. In the end, I think this is the area that will have the most potential because of that, and companies who invest in this technology early will create a new wave of millionaires, just like the Internet and now Crypto did. What we now consider to be science fiction is but a premonition on what will come to pass, as it is always, but what exactly does the future hold for this emerging industry?

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The Future of AR, VR and MR:
When I think of the future in this exciting new technology niche, I see it more and more as an added layer on everyday life and less as a simple technological sector. One will go through their daily routines constantly in touch with VR simulations, AR GUIs and Mixed Reality interfaces. You walk down the street enjoying a cup of coffee and tapping a mixed reality interface only you can see and handle. The transactions world will also be overhauled by this technology, and I can picture a world in which you seamlessly transfer crypto from one of those HUDs to another. The future seems bright to me.

In conclusion, I think we are walking towards an age that will rely heavilly on these technologies, especially those who operate under the category of Mixed Reality do to reasons described above. On the other hand, there are still a lot of skeptics that aren't as optimistic as I am, and claim VR and AR are areas that will never take off. So what is your opinion? Do you think we’re on our way to a major breakthrough anytime soon? Finally, do you see a way cryptocurrencies can thrive with all of this? Let us know in the comments below.