Tech nerds are losing their heads about Apple’s Vision Pro virtual reality (VR) headset. And while there’s much hype about the technology’s potential, there are also loads of misconceptions about the tech itself. What should you believe when you can’t believe your eyes? Here are four myths about VR – and augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) – and the truths you need to know.  

First Of All VR, AR, MR Are Not The Same Thing 

They’re similar, but not the same.  

• VR is a fully immersive computer-simulated experience that uses a headset to either replicate a real environment or create an imaginary world. In its purest form of VR engaging all five senses (taste, sight, smell, touch, sound), which worked in The Matrix but is insanely difficult to achieve in real life. 

• AR mixes VR and the real world, adding to (or augmenting) a real-world environment with computer-generated additions like graphics, labels or GPS data. A good, but silly, example is Snapchat’s Lenses or Google’s Hang a Masterpiece tool. 

• MR is a hybrid reality where physical and digital objects interact with each other in real time. Microsoft’s Hololens training system does this well, as does the Holodeck in Star Trek: The Next Generation. 

 

VR and The Metaverse Are Not The Same Thing 

Not quite. VR either replicates the real world or creates a completely new one – imagine the possibilities for tourism! The Metaverse, meanwhile, is an interconnected digital universe that blends those realities in real-time. So, while VR creates a single, closed environment for you to experience on your own, the Metaverse is a virtual world in which you'll meet other people. A lot like the world imagined in the novel/movie Ready Player One.

 

VR is Not Just A Movie Gimmick 

VR has been a sci-fi staple for ages. Some of the grand visions of VR’s future have aged poorly like Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe's 1995 stinker 'Virtuosity'; others were scarily prescient, like another  1995 film Strange Days. Can it be gimmicky? Sure. But no way is it a passing fad. Large tech firms are researching and developing the technology in a big way – from the super-affordable Google Cardboard to Apple’s Vision Pro. Expect more to come as more industries harness the tech’s potential. Speaking of which…  

VR Is Not Just For Gamers 

Video games like Half-Life: Alyx and Assassin’s Creed Nexus are at the forefront, but gaming is not the technology’s only application. Microsoft founder Bill Gates has been hailing its use in medicine for nearly a decade, while top athletes like Marcus Rashford are already using it to sharpen their game. “Immersive technologies like these aren’t just changing games, they’re transforming lives across industries, amplifying our potential and reshaping what’s possible,” says the Manchester United forward. And who’d argue with him? 

One thing you will require to have a truly immersive VR/AR/MR experience is a solid internet connection. Vodacom can provide this with one of their home internet deals. Find out more about Vodacom Home Internet and while you at check which connectivity is available in your neighbourhood.