“Google glass is augmented reality, while Oculus is virtual reality,” said Chris Dixon, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz in Menlo Park and an angel investor in Kickstarter. “Virtual reality is the next big platform after mobile.”

So, What is the between AR and VR?

In the case of virtual reality, the key characteristic is that with the use of a computer system, the user enters an entirely immersive world. Everything around the user is fabricated by the system. This may display inside a blank room, headset, or other device that allows the user to feel present in the virtual environment. Some virtual reality also offers features like feedback in the form of sound or touch to allow the user to interact with objects and spaces. This simulates real-world experiences in an entirely built environment.

In contrast, augmented reality takes place in the real world, with added virtual elements. These can include sounds, sensations, or images generated by a computer system. Haptic feedback which consists of vibrations and other sensations on computer equipment, for example, is a form of augmented reality that enhances the experience for the operator. Likewise, advertising campaigns that involve projections of images into real-world spaces are another type of augmented reality.

As it stands, augmented reality is ahead of virtual reality, as there are several products already on the market. We are witnessing the rise of AR hardware devices from Google in the form of Glass, and also plans from Microsoft to launch something similar with its $150 million purchase for wearable computing assets.

On the matter of VR, the technology is just stepping up to the plate. It’s still far away from being this great thing for social encounters in a virtual world, but with the rise of the Oculus Rift, it is getting there.