COMBINING REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES WITH VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY

By Lynn Pearce

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two of the most exciting technologies in the world of computing today.

VR technology creates a completely immersive, 3D environment that simulates, or completely replaces the real world, and mostly requires a headset to be worn. All three types of VR, from non-immersive, semi-immersive, full immersive or a mixture of them, are also referred to as extended reality (XR) and provides three types of virtual reality experiences for different levels of computer-generated simulation.

AR, on the other hand, overlays digital information on top of the real world. AR experiences are often accessed through a mobile device, which is used to view the real world through the device’s camera.

AR elements are then added to the real-world view, creating a hybrid real - ity experience. Both technologies have come a long way since their inception, and they have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives.

The concept of VR dates back to the 1960s, when computer scientist Ivan Sutherland and his student, Bob Sproull created the first head-mounted display system called the “Sword of Damocles” mainly for medical, flight simulation, automobile industry design, and military training purposes. It was a very basic system that projected simple graphics onto a screen in front of the user, but it laid the foundation for more advanced VR systems.The term “virtual reality” was coined by Jaron Lanier, founder of VPL Research.

Over the years, VR technology has continued to evolve, with the development of more sophisticated headmounted displays, tracking systems, and software. In the 1990s, VR technology began to enter the mainstream, with companies like Sega (Space Harrier 3D) and Nintendo (Virtual Boy) releasing consumer VR gaming products. However, these products were largely considered failures due to high costs and limited capabilities.

AR, on the other hand, has a more recent history, with the first AR system being developed in the early 1990s. It was a system called the Virtual Fixtures, which allowed users to overlay digital information onto real-world objects. The technology was primarily used in industrial settings, such as in the design of airplanes.

Today, VR and AR are being used in a wide range of applications, from entertainment and gaming to education, healthcare, and military training. VR systems like the Oculus Quest 2 and the HTC Vive Pro offer users a highly immersive experience with high-resolution displays, motion tracking, and realistic audio. AR systems like Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 and the Magic Leap One enable users to overlay digital information onto the real world, allowing for new and innovative ways of interacting with our environment, particularly in the travel industry.

Interestingly,most people would prefer the VR environment without the pain-inducing headsets, and I believe the sooner we can have a VR and AR experience without headsets, the better!

I was introduced to VR technology recently that does not require headsets. My team and I were shown a demo on VR and AR that was truly mindboggling! The developer showed us his personal living room leading to his front door on one side, the fireplace in the middle and another door leading into other rooms within his apartment. He signed one of my team members up as an Avatar on the call and invited him to walk into his realworld living room through an app, where he was able to walk around it and open the front door to walk outside – all without a headset!

He also showed a weird semitransparent door hovering on his real grass, which my team member could walk through and he suddenly found himself at the beach – in the real world! Perhaps this is not new to other developers or virtual reality development companies, but it certainly impressed the team and I greatly!

Within the gaming industry, VR has become a popular platform, with games like Beat Saber, Half-Life: Alyx, and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners providing a truly immersive experience.

There are quite a number of top B2C gaming companies already offering various experiences in virtual and augmented reality for their customer base.

One of the top poker gaming companies allows users to play poker in a fully immersive environment with other players from around the world. In addition, the game also features augmented reality elements, such as displaying players’ real-life images and allowing them to use hand gestures to interact with the game.

From another top casino operator, their virtual reality casino features over 40 slot games in a fully immersive environment, allowing users to explore the casino and interact with other players. The casino also features augmented reality elements, such as displaying players’ social media profiles and allowing them to communicate with each other via chat.

One of my favourite sports betting operators has an augmented reality app that allows users to place bets on real-life sporting events, by overlaying virtual betting options onto the real world. Users can also access statistics and other information about the events through the app.

Severaligaming brands that use AR and VR technologies also incorporate avatars (digital representations of users) into their experiences. Avatars can enhance the social and immersive aspects of AR and VR experiences, allowing users to feel more connected to the virtual environment and other players. If you’re looking to create a unique experience for your igaming brand, incorporating avatars into your AR or VR experience could be a great way to do so.

Overall, it would appear that the future of VR and AR is bright, and as you can see, there are already several B2C igaming brands that are using both AR and VR together to create unique and engaging user experiences. However, there is always room for more innovation and creativity in this field, and B2B software developers are steaming ahead with these and other new technologies in igaming right now, developing games which run on the iCloud instead of computers or consoles, making the technology more accessible to customers across the world.

In addition, the continued development of haptic technology (which simulates touch and other sensations) and gesture recognition (a technology that allows users to control digital interfaces using physical gestures, such as hand movements or body motions), will also enhance the VR and AR experience, making it feel even more immersive and realistic.

For example, you could explore creating custom game environments, implementing unique gameplay mechanics, or integrating cutting-edge technologies like haptic feedback or gesture recognition. The possibilities are endless, so it’s worth exploring different options to create an experience that stands out from the rest.

In conclusion, VR and AR have come a long way since their inception, and they are poised to revolutionize many aspects of our lives in the future. From entertainment and gaming to healthcare, education, travel and more, these technologies offer exciting new ways of interacting with our environment and each other. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting applications in the years to come.