AR/VR Basics
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality change how people see and interact with digital content. This topic introduces both technologies in simple terms and prepares you for the rest of the course.
What Is Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality, or AR, adds digital objects on top of the real world. A phone camera shows the room in front of you, and the app places a virtual sofa inside that room. The real world stays visible, and digital layers sit on top of it.
What Is Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality, or VR, replaces the real world with a fully digital one. A person wears a headset and sees a computer-generated environment instead of their actual surroundings. VR blocks outside vision and creates a new visual space.
A Simple Diagram: Real World vs Digital World
Why These Technologies Matter
Businesses use AR and VR to train staff, sell products, and teach students. A furniture store lets shoppers place virtual chairs in their living room before buying. A hospital trains surgeons on a virtual patient before they touch a real one. These tools save money and reduce risk.
Everyday Example
Think about trying on sunglasses using a phone filter. The phone tracks your face and places a virtual pair of glasses on it. This small example uses the same core idea found in large AR applications.
Key Terms to Remember
- AR: digital objects placed on top of the real world
- VR: a fully digital environment that replaces the real world
- Headset: a device worn on the head to view VR content
- Tracking: the process a device uses to know where you are and where you look