Virtual and Augmented reality are two recent technologies coming into maturity from being sci-fi pipe dreams just a few years ago into part of our regular lives. But first what’s the difference between virtual and augmented reality?
Virtual reality (VR) provides a complete immersion into a virtual world utilising goggles that provide 3d vision for the user. Augmented reality (AR) adds to a live viewing experience with digital elements.
google glasses Source:https://www.extremetech.com/
Google glasses are probably one of the most famous examples of augmented reality, the idea was to have a pair of glasses where you would look through the screen to see the world. Through the glasses, you would be able to scroll Facebook or receive texts and do anything that could be done on a phone whilst at the same time you could have live ads overlaid into the world around you.
Whilst google glasses didn’t quite take off as hoped AR certainly has if you’ve ever used a Snapchat or Instagram filter then you’ve used Augmented reality.
The use of AR isn’t just confined to trivial filters, AR and VR are both being incorporated into the design and visualisation process, this trend will continue as both these technologies develop out of their infancy.
HonePD were able to incorporate AR into a useful real world case via our work designing playground equipment. We were able to show prospective councils The designs through their mobiles phones and could be walked around with updating views and all but touched through the phone.
Virtual reality is starting to become more mainstream especially in high-end architecture to create stunning visualisations, to walk customers through properties before they are built as can be seen by the example below.
Autodesk VR source: https://www.autodesk.com.au/
Whilst visualising products and spaces in VR and AR are starting to develop actually designing products all in virtual reality has only just started. There are programs to design and draw in VR but compared to their 2D they are more like Microsoft Paint, and while they can produce cute drawings and inspire a project further they cannot be used for detailed product design.
One of the main programs used by the design team at honepd has just last year added VR to their offering. Whilst the VR functionality is basic it provides the first step into creating complex organic geometry that can be used in production quality modelling.
As Virtual and Augmented reality technologies develop we seek to further utilise them throughout our design process and to design products that people love.
If you have an idea you would like to develop into a product get in touch with us at hello@honepd.com