AUGMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY

AUGMENTED REALITY VS. VIRTUAL REALITY

I. Explain the difference between AR + VR as a customer experience.

I would say that augmented reality consists in integrating digital information by sharing the environment and it is real time.  Augmented reality kind of softens the line between what is real and what is computer generated. It is done by emphasizing what we usually experience including sight, sound, touch and (sometimes) smell.Augmented reality uses the actual environment but it integrates some new information.On the other hand, virtual reality creates an artificial environment where people can imagine and experience a completely different environment from the actual one. They will be immersed in a simulated and artificial environment.I think that, as a customer experience, it is different in the sense that people only need their digital device for the AR experience while they need a special headset for VR. So it might seem more accessible for hoteliers/customers/businesses to use AR instead of VR. With AR they will be experiencing a new digital piece of information in a real environment while they will be experiencing the real world with VR.Overall, where augmented reality provides an overview of the real world, virtual reality provides more a digital experience.

II. What type of businesses/organization can best benefit from AR or VR - for what purpose?

I think these businesses/organization could best benefit from AR/VR: 
Commerce: could use augmented reality both for offline and online shopping with virtual fitting rooms to help users choose the right size, etc. Also, it could help users in choosing car colors or new furniture. It can also help companies and businesses with the advertising part.
Manufacturing: AR could facilitate the building processes in factories (by monitoring the work progress in real time thanks to AR). It seems to me that it would be a time-saving process with the use of digital maps and plants. 
Education: I think that AR brings many possibilities for teaching and learning process because this reality provides a unique path with immersive simulations. 
Travel and Tourism: GPS apps that have AR can show tourist roads and directions to the wished destinations and also translate the signs on the streets. Also, about what they can/should see in the town.

III. Your opinion based on your research - Fad or real tool? Be prepared to support your position.

I think that this is a real tool that will become more and more important because of all the information that we get every day. I mentioned education above; I think that people could become more cultivated or more interested in something thanks to VR and AR. They wouldn't have to spend so much time looking for something online (real-time information)As a future hotelier, I think this is a real advantage because it might attract more clients: VR is a way to escape from reality (people can have a good time and create memories by visiting/discovering new places). AR is interesting as well because it could develop the senses of people (they would become even more connected). 
Also, if you take a look at the chart, we can see how important these two concepts are going to become between 2018 and 2020.