At Learning Technologies in London last week I expressed my view that Augmented Reality (AR) has more direct applications in workplace learning than Virtual Reality (VR). This is based on a number of factors. The first is that AR can be used through existing personal technologies, such as smartphones and tablets. Several apps are freely downloadable, including Aurasma, Layar and Blippar, each of which is capable of being used instantly to discover information about the world around us. AR views the world through the camera on your device and overlays additional information on the live images it presents on the screen. Another factor is that AR is a little easier to use than VR, taking less time to set up. Yes, VR visors are now common place and cheap to purchase from most online stores, and they also function using personal technologies. However, this additional cost, although not prohibitive on a small scale, could be a problem if a large organisation had to purchase them for every employee.
Via
Marta Torán