The key differences between virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) lie in how they immerse users in their respective environments:

1. **Environment Interaction:**
– **Virtual Reality (VR):** Completely immerses users in a computer-generated environment, often isolating them from the physical world. Users experience a fully artificial, 360-degree environment.
– **Augmented Reality (AR):** Overlays digital content onto the real world, enhancing the user’s perception of their surroundings. AR does not replace the real world but supplements it with additional information.

2. **User Experience:**
– **VR:** Offers a more immersive and isolated experience as users are fully immersed in a virtual environment. VR is typically experienced using headsets that cover the eyes and ears.
– **AR:** Allows users to see and interact with both the digital and real-world simultaneously. AR is often experienced through devices like smartphones, AR glasses, or heads-up displays.

3. **Application Purpose:**
– **VR:** Primarily used for creating artificial, immersive experiences, such as gaming, simulations, and virtual tours.
– **AR:** Used to enhance real-world experiences by adding digital information. Applications range from navigation and education to retail and gaming.

4. **Level of Immersion:**
– **VR:** Provides a higher level of immersion by completely replacing the physical environment with a virtual one.
– **AR:** Integrates digital elements into the real world, maintaining a connection with the physical surroundings.

5. **Devices:**
– **VR:** Requires specialized hardware like VR headsets, which often include motion tracking sensors.
– **AR:** Can be experienced using devices like smartphones, tablets, AR glasses, or specialized AR headsets.

In summary, VR creates a fully immersive digital environment, while AR overlays digital content onto the real world, blending the virtual and physical aspects of the user’s surroundings.