Virtual Reality Glossary

A

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a type of technology that shows you an enhanced version of the real world around you by overlaying a digital augmentation. For example, if you are looking at an empty field, AR may show you a rendering of your dream house in the field.

H

Haptic Feedback

Haptic feedback is a type of touch technology that provides simulated physical feedback, such as the vibration of the keyboard in a smartphone. When used with virtual reality devices, haptic feedback allows the user to touch and feel something in the virtual environment that is not in the real world.

I

Immersive Learning

Immersive learning involves putting people in virtual learning environments to recreate real-world scenarios. This type of learning helps employees in the medical field practice certain techniques and skills in safe virtual spaces. There are a variety of immersive learning types available for healthcare provider training. The benefits of virtual reality (VR) training include promoting focus and improving memory retention — just to name a few.

M

Mixed Reality

Mixed reality (MR) technology is a blend, or merging, of the viewer’s virtual and real-world environments. The goal of MR is to create an environment with interactive digital objects where the line between virtual and physical reality is blurred. For example, with MR the user can play a virtual video game and smack a character with a real-world remote control.

V

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) technology gives the user an immersive experience in a virtual world. This makes it appear as though the user is in a different environment instead of in the real world.