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Virtual reality and augmented reality will be important technologies in everyday life.

How will they revolutionize our future?

Intro a faire

                   Today, technology has taken us to a point we never thought we'd reach. A point so unimaginable that nowadays, we are able to recreate reality, or modify it. Indeed, it is now possible, another reality with the help of a support such as a helmet for example. This innovation is called augmented reality or virtual reality. These two technologies are often confused, yet they have different practices and objectives.

Virtual reality is a computer technology that simulates the physical presence of a user in an environment artificially generated by software. The user can interact with this fictitious environment. Virtual reality therefore artificially reproduces a sensory experience, which may include sight, touch, hearing and possibly smell. With the miniaturization of display technologies and the progress of computer science, virtual reality has won the private sphere. Where once a whole room had to be built to simulate an environment (an airplane cockpit for example), today you only need a virtual reality helmet and find yourself immersed in an epic car race or a spaceship.

                  Augmented reality is a technology that aims to include real-time information, information superimposed on reality. We talk about augmented reality because reality is enriched with virtual information (objects, images, text) in an interactive way. It is to be distinguished from virtual reality, which immerses the user in a virtual world with which he can interact, as presented earlier. Virtual reality is a simulation technology based on the virtual, while augmented reality is based on the real. The ultimate goal of augmented reality is to stimulate our 5 senses, not just sight or hearing. For augmented reality to work, it requires three elements: a capture camera (most often a camera), an operating system and a screen to display the information. In addition, the system can use a geolocalisation system to display additional data based on the user's position.

                     Virtual reality is transforming several sectors. Leading the way: video games, education, medical and military. This is not so surprising since since each movement is reproduced in the virtual universe, the immersion is total and allows to organize simulations of great precision. Augmented reality, on the other hand, is more oriented towards broader sectors, such as leisure, industry, automotive or aerospace. The list is long, as this technology allows a much more versatile use than VR helmets. At the moment, these technologies look fabulous, several devices are not yet fully developed and all are still too expensive to be adopted by the general public.