Augmented reality and virtual reality: what they are and how they are applied

ARTICLE UPDATED MAY 2026

In recent years, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have moved from being sci-fi promises to technologies that businesses and users are starting to use regularly. Alongside artificial intelligence, they are redefining how we perceive information, how we learn, and how we work, merging the physical and digital worlds in new ways. 

In this article, we delve into the universe of AR and VR, explaining what they are, how they work, and in which areas they are already having a real impact on our daily lives. We will also review some of their challenges and the future that is being shaped around these immersive technologies. 

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality is a technology that overlays digital information - images, text, 3D models, sound - onto our perception of the real world in real time. Unlike virtual reality, it doesn't take us to a completely digital environment, but rather enriches what we see and hear by adding layers of interactive content. 

Today we can experience AR from everyday devices like mobile phones or tablets, but also through smart glasses and mixed reality headsets. Filters on social media, navigation apps that show directions on the street, or tools that allow you to “try on” furniture or clothes at home before buying them are examples of how AR is naturally entering our daily lives. 

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality, on the other hand, completely immerses us in computer-generated environments, isolating our sight and, in many cases, our hearing from the physical world. Using VR headsets or headphones, the user can move and look around in a virtual world that responds to their movements, creating a very intense sense of presence. 

Beyond immersive video games, VR is used to safely simulate complex situations: from training in industrial environments to medical practice or emergency simulations. This ability to “be” in another context without leaving the room makes it a very powerful tool for training, rehearsal, and experimentation. 

Technological foundations: how do AR and VR work?

At the heart of AR and VR, several advanced technologies are combined. Augmented Reality relies on cameras, motion sensors, GPS, and computer vision algorithms to understand the environment —planes, surfaces, depth— and place digital objects in positions that are coherent with what the camera sees. This requires real-time image processing and, increasingly, artificial intelligence models capable of recognising people, objects, or text. 

In Virtual Reality, specialised headsets integrate high-resolution displays, specific optics and sensors that track the position and orientation of the head and, in many cases, the hands. The system “renders” the scene from the user's perspective and updates the image dozens of times per second so that the experience is fluid and believable, minimising the feeling of motion sickness. In recent years, standalone headsets – such as the latest devices from Meta or Apple – have become popular. These do not require an external computer and take advantage of “spatial computing” techniques to combine AR and VR elements in a single device. 

Practical applications in everyday life

AR and VR have stopped being just entertainment and have become tools with very specific uses in different sectors. 

Education and training

In education, VR learning platforms allow students to visit historical sites, explore the solar system, or conduct laboratory experiments in safe and controlled environments. In vocational training, VR is used to train operators, pilots, or healthcare personnel in complex scenarios, reducing costs and risks compared to physical training. 

Augmented Reality, for its part, enriches textbooks and educational resources with interactive 3D models, contextual annotations, or step-by-step guides visible directly on the object being studied. This facilitates visual and practical learning, and allows for tailoring the experience to different student levels or paces. 

Health and well-being

In the healthcare sector, VR is used to simulate surgical procedures, practise interventions, and improve the training of medical teams. Applications are also being explored in pain therapy, physical rehabilitation, or phobia treatment, where gradual exposure to controlled situations can be very effective. 

AR is applied to assist surgeons and professionals in real time, displaying relevant information over the field of vision, such as diagnostic images, anatomical plans, or indicators during a procedure. These tools can reduce errors and improve precision in certain procedures. 

Trade and e-commerce

Augmented Reality has transformed the way we shop for certain products. “Virtual try-on” apps allow you to see how a sofa would look in your living room, if a shelf fits on a wall, or how an item of clothing looks without needing to try it on physically. In the physical environment, some shops incorporate smart mirrors or tags that, when viewed with a mobile phone, display enlarged information, videos, or personalised recommendations. 

VR is used to design and test store layouts, create virtual showrooms, or allow customers to explore complete catalogues in an immersive environment, especially in sectors like automotive or real estate. 

Tourism and culture

In tourism, AR allows mobile phones to be turned into a kind of “digital guide” that adds layers of information about monuments, buildings or landscapes when you point the camera at them. In this way, travellers can access historical explanations, 3D reconstructions of what the place was like in the past, or personalised routes without needing to follow a physical group. 

VR, on the other hand, offers virtual tours of museums, cities or natural environments, accessible from anywhere in the world. This not only broadens the reach of cultural institutions, but also allows for better trip preparation or brings experiences closer to people with reduced mobility. 

Ethical challenges and considerations

Alongside their benefits, AR and VR pose significant challenges in terms of privacy, well-being, and ethics. 

Immersive devices can collect large amounts of sensitive data: from body movements and posture to eye tracking, facial expressions, or even physiological indicators. This information, in the wrong hands or without proper safeguards, could be used to create highly detailed user profiles, with significant implications for their privacy. 

Furthermore, prolonged immersion in virtual environments raises questions about the balance between the digital and physical worlds, mental health, and potential effects on the perception of reality, particularly in young people. Regulatory bodies and experts recommend applying “privacy by design” principles, transparency in data usage, and clear limits on exposure time, as well as developing specific ethical frameworks for immersive experiences. 

The future of AR and VR

The potential of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality is still far from being exhausted. Trends point towards a convergence towards mixed reality or “extended reality” (XR) experiences, in which we can move from viewing the real world with digital overlays to fully virtual environments with the same device. Improvements in resolution, ergonomics, headset battery life, and integration with artificial intelligence will make these experiences increasingly natural and accessible. 

In the coming years, we will see more advanced applications in medicine, industry, collaborative design, and remote work, where distributed teams can share virtual spaces in which they can manipulate 3D models, data, and prototypes as if they were in the same room. Projects that combine generative AI with AR/VR to create on-demand environments and content, adapted to the user's context and preferences in real-time, will also grow. 

In summary, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are paving the way towards a world where the boundaries between the physical and the digital become increasingly blurred. From the way we learn and train, to how we shop, travel, or collaborate at work, these technologies are leaving a profound mark on our society. As we continue to explore their possibilities, it is clear that we are not just looking at a new way of consuming content, but at a transformation of how we experience reality itself.  

Training and professional future in immersive technologies

If you're interested in technology and see Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality as a field with a future, the natural next step is to train yourself to understand them and know how to apply them in your professional area. AR, VR, and extended reality are already used in education, industry, health, design, marketing, product development, and remote collaboration, and their adoption will continue to grow in the coming years.

You can explore Our academic offering to find the programme that best suits how you want to specialise: from routes focused on programming and the development of immersive experiences to training more geared towards data, artificial intelligence, or digital products. The aim is for you to combine your interest in these technologies with a solid foundation in technical and business skills, and thus be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that AR, VR, and XR will open up in the job market.