Reality 2.0

While wandering past animal skeletons in a natural history museum, you might wonder what the creatures looked like when they were alive. Illustrations displayed near the towering bones try to show you, but they can’t get across the scale of these creatures. That’s why several museums have developed augmented reality (AR) apps—and more—to show you! While wearing AR glasses, visitors to the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, can see extinct animals moving about the galleries. The exhibit is called Revivre, which means “to live again” in French.

And museums aren’t the only groups using augmented reality and virtual reality (VR). These technologies were once the stuff of science fiction but are now used in many different ways. Read on to learn more about some awesome applications!

When you see an animal skeleton, you might wonder what it looked like when it was alive. Natural history museums use illustrations to try and show you. But these illustrations can’t show the scale of the animals. That’s why several museums have made augmented reality (AR) apps. These apps help you see what extinct animals were like when they were alive. Visitors to the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, can see extinct animals moving about the galleries using AR goggles. The exhibit is called Revivre. It means “to live again” in French.

Museums aren’t the only groups using augmented reality and virtual reality (VR). These technologies were once the stuff of science fiction. Today they are used in many different ways. Read on to learn about how they’re used!

Want to improve your basketball skills? With Dribbleup, your tablet becomes the trainer! This AR app comes with a smart basketball that pairs wirelessly with your device. As you dribble, the basketball records information about its speed and location. Virtual targets appear on the screen while you train, showing you how to move the ball for the best technique.

Want to get better at basketball? The AR app Dribbleup can help! It comes with a smart basketball that pairs wirelessly with your device. The basketball records information about its speed and location as you move it. Virtual targets appear on the screen while you practice. These targets show you how to best move the ball.

You stand in front of a giant stage. The crowd is packed shoulder to shoulder. Bright lights flash above you as Billie Eilish appears and starts singing. To experience a concert like this, you’d normally have to buy a ticket and go in person. But now, anyone with an Oculus or Meta Quest VR headset can attend her virtual concert!

As part of Women’s History Month last year, the company Meta uploaded virtual versions of events with female leaders and creators, including Eilish’s performance at the 2021 Governors Ball. The company also regularly schedules new concerts and other events that users can join from the comfort of their couch.

You stand in front of a giant stage. The crowd is packed. Bright lights flash above you. And then Billie Eilish appears and starts singing. You’d normally have to go in person to experience a concert like this. But anyone with an Oculus or Meta Quest VR headset can attend Eilish’s virtual concert!

The company Meta uploaded virtual versions of events with female leaders and creators last year. It was a way to celebrate Women’s History Month. One event was Eilish’s performance at the 2021 Governors Ball. The company also regularly schedules new concerts and other events. Users can join these events from the comfort of their couch.

Learning how to fly a plane often takes years of training—which can be dangerous. That’s why some flight schools are turning to VR! True Course Simulations has created virtual copies of a few popular training planes, such as the Cessna 172. Its training course includes a total of 73 VR missions.

Students experience the plane’s controls and movement as if they were in the cockpit—without ever leaving the ground. At one major flight school, practicing in VR helped students complete their first solo flight mission more than 30 percent faster!

Learning how to fly a plane often takes years of training. It can be dangerous. That’s why some flight schools are using VR! True Course Simulations has created virtual copies of a few popular training planes. One such plane is the Cessna 172. Its training course includes 73 VR missions.

Students experience the plane’s controls and movement as if they were in the cockpit. But they never have to leave the ground. One major flight school had students practice in VR. It helped them complete their first solo flight more than 30 percent faster!