“I would like that in the future clients of architectural firms can experience an accompaniment during the design process different from the one that currently exists. The implementation of virtual reality in architectural projects would bring amazing benefits into the market.” 
Aranza Ayala
Talent Research Program Intern

What is the Virtual reality?

To start with this topic, I think it is important to mention what Virtual Reality is, and its functions in the branch that interests us, architecture. Virtual reality is an environment of scenes and objects of real appearance, hence its name, these scenes are created by the user through computer technology, this so that there is the feeling of being immersed in said environment. This is contemplated through the well-known virtual reality glasses. 

Virtual reality in architecture helps architects to get to know the space better, and it is a new way of presenting projects to clients, in this way clients will be able to understand the project more clearly, and be clearer with future design fixes. 

What is the Augmented reality?

The function of Augmented Reality is to insert virtual objects into the physical context. Combine the real and virtual world! 

The difference between virtual reality and augmented reality is that in virtual reality a completely new environment is created, apart from the real world, while augmented reality only includes digital components in the physical world that surrounds us; projects information, such as images, graphics, characters, texts in the real world, providing a new vision of physical space. 

An easy-to-digest example would be like in the Ironman fiction movies, with his “Jarvis” augmented reality helmet. 

What is the Metaverse?

With virtual reality, many times we would like to be inside that world created by computers, but at the end of the day, it is just a device that gives you that illusion temporarily. Can you imagine that you could actually live in that world? That’s what the metaverse talks about. 

This term emerged in 1992, for a novel called “Snow Crash”. It is a term that has been used to describe visions of three-dimensional, or virtual, workspaces. For this reason, the Metaverse means a virtual world in which we can interact, and which has been created to resemble an external reality.

This is a virtual world, where we connect using a series of devices that give us the illusion that we are really inside it by interacting with all its elements. You will have the feeling that you have been teleported to that completely new world, this will be possible thanks to different components that will help us interact with it, among these components, the virtual reality glasses. 

The Metaverse does not seek to be a fantasy world, it seeks to be a kind of alternate reality. We will be able to do our activities that we would do outside the home, but from our room. The key to the metaverse is that it can be fully immersive, much more so than virtual reality currently is. 

Comparison: Virtual Reality - Augmented Reality - Metaverse

It is normal for people to be confused when hearing these terms, but each of them has its essence that characterizes one of the others. 

  • Virtual reality (VR)

    Currently, VR is used to create immersive videos, these videos are also known as 360° videos. They are created with panoramas that record in all directions at the same time, in addition, the user has the possibility to control the direction of the visualization in real time.

  • Augmented reality (AR)

    Augmented reality inserts virtual objects in the physical context, and shows them to the user, this is possible thanks to the use of the interface of the real environment with the support of technology: AR is characterized by combining the real and virtual worlds, offers real-time interaction, adapts to the environment it focuses on, and interacts with the physical capabilities of the environment.

  • Metaverse

    This is a huge space, where multiple technologies and platforms work together to provide different services. It is expected that with the metaverse the user can do activities, such as having a social life within this virtual world as in real life, buying and selling virtual and physical objects. The closest experience we have with this new technology is in the world of video games, but it is not exclusively for these video game platforms, it could be the residence of a wide variety of social interactions in which we could participate on a daily basis.

Conclusion

Virtual reality, augmented reality and the metaverse have various similarities with each other, both concepts seek to take us to new realities, where our experiences with the virtual world are much more pleasant and comfortable. In the case of the metaverse, it is excellent for emergency situations where we need to isolate ourselves, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be a way to carry out our work and school activities with the security of staying in our homes, but with the same social activity. 



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