Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes digital information over the user’s view using a device like a smartphone or smart tablet. Its goal is to enhance the user’s experience with the environment. Virtual Reality (VR) is technology that occludes the user’s sight and places the user in a virtual environment through a head-mounted device called a VR headset. Everything the user hears or sees is synthetic. Its goal is to fully immerse the user in a different environment. Mixed Reality (MR) is a combination of both AR and VR with the real world.  

AR and VR are integrating digital information and experiences to real-world understandings. They are important technologies because they have the potential to change the way the world operates and communicates and how we live as humans — providing experiences that would not otherwise be possible. What started as immersive, video game technology has now enabled businesses of all types to provide a wide range of solutions. AR and VR have the potential to save tremendous amounts of time and money while providing an unmatched and immersive learning environment for everyone from students to professionals. 

Both AR and VR technologies are being used in many industries, including automotive, manufacturing, construction, aircraft, healthcare, extractive industry, military and law enforcement, education and real estate.  

They are being used for designing, training, teaching and more. A few of the possibilities include medical students learning about the human body by applying AR to cadavers, and pilots trained to handle in-flight emergency situations using VR simulation instead of while up in the air. Car manufacturers use AR and VR technologies to design cars and create HUD (heads up displays) for safety and performance. 

Using AR and VR increases efficiency, safety and productivity. These technologies save time, money, and reduce error rates — allowing for mitigation of risks in workforce training (such as in the military and medical fields). AR and VR allow engineers and designers to try new ideas without wasting resources. In the virtual space, it’s possible to connect with individuals around the world in an immersive environment. 

Whose problems are being solved? AR and VR have the potential to solve problems for virtually everyone. Businesses. Consumers. Teachers. Students. Travelers. Trainers. Designers. Doctors. Travelers. Salespeople. Marketers. The list is endless, and any individual who wants to problem solve, create or design a solution for implementation to testing can find value in AR and VR technologies.  

3M is designing and developing within augmented and virtual reality to engage with our customers, products and services in new and unique ways. For example, our Traffic Safety Division is using virtual reality simulations to create immersive experiences in the design and implementation of road safety mechanisms and technologies. We are simulating various driving conditions with and without 3M traffic safety technologies and markings, putting someone behind the wheel of an automobile in a virtual space in various conditions to experience our road safety solutions. We have also developed virtual reality experiences for urban traffic safety, putting an individual at a busy urban intersection — virtually — for them to design and build a better traffic solution. We debuted 3M Home at Milan Design Week, which is a virtual reality platform that allows us to meet in the virtual space using avatars to explore 3M products and services. This is an example of experiencing the “metaverse” where we can connect with customers and colleagues from around the world, pull up a 3D version of a product or technology and view or manipulate its structure, or take someone to the top of a skyscraper to showcase a safety harness application. The possibilities are limitless.

Our Traffic Safety Division is using virtual reality simulations to create immersive experiences in the design and implementation of road safety mechanisms and technologies. We are simulating various driving conditions with and without 3M traffic safety technologies and markings, putting someone behind the wheel of an automobile in a virtual space in various conditions to experience our road safety solutions. We have also developed virtual reality experiences for urban traffic safety, putting an individual at a busy urban intersection — virtually — for them to design and build a better traffic solution. 

We debuted 3M Home at Milan Design Week, which is a virtual reality platform that allows us to meet in the virtual space using avatars to explore 3M products and services. This is an example of experiencing the “metaverse” where we can connect with customers and colleagues from around the world, pull up a 3D version of a product or technology and view or manipulate its structure, or take someone to the top of a skyscraper to showcase a safety harness application. The possibilities are limitless.