Alternate Reality Travel Guide

Alternate Reality is an expanding universe. Each year brings new ways to explore regions previously unheard of – curious perceptions of our actual world represented within a vast digital cosmos. Alternate Reality reaches from two-dimensional experiences into variations of three-dimensional. 4D experiences in themed entertainment reach even further with sensory effects wrapping back into actual reality - the world we live in every day.

Appropriate applications of Alternate Reality technology are important to effectively communicate your story in the most compelling manner. After browsing this guide you'll hold valuable knowledge in your adventure across emotionally engaging terrains of communication.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Platforms: Oculus Rift, Sony PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream

Viewed on a digital screen and heard on speakers or through headphones.

Immersive simulation of three-dimensional environments and characters.

Created through sensor-interpreting interactive software and hardware.

Experienced and often controlled by participant body movement.

Realism is established through the design and style of pre-made media.

Three-dimensional visual impression may not present true Z-axis depth.

Participant physical movements are electronically tracked to match the environment.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Platforms: any standard computing/display device (smartphone, pad, laptop, desktop display)

Viewed on a digital screen and heard on speakers or through headphones.

An improved, enhanced or expanded visual representation of a real-world space.

Overlay of synthetic elements on the real world which anchors to and interacts with the real world.

Elements may be sound, video, graphics or combination thereof.

Physical and computer elements are often controlled through GPS data.

Live data may influence the computer-generated elements (i.e. weather).

Three-dimensional visual impression may not present true Z-axis depth.

Participant physical movements are electronically tracked to match the environment.

Mixed Reality (MxR)

Platforms: Microsoft HoloLens, Canon MReal, VOID, HoloViz, Magic Leap (retinal display)

aka: Hybrid Reality, holographic computing

Variation of Augmented Reality

Viewed on a digital screen and heard on speakers or through headphones.

Overlay of anchored synthetic elements on the real world which a viewer may interact with.

Elements may be sound, video, graphics or an ever-changing combination thereof.

Physical and computer elements are often controlled via GPS data.

Live data may influence the computer-generated elements (i.e. weather information).

Three-dimensional electronic media impression may not present true Z-axis depth.

Participant physical movements are electronically tracked to match the environment.

For the complete guide with a high-resolution Alternate Realities relationship chart, visit my blog.