Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are no longer futuristic concepts confined to science fiction. They have rapidly evolved into powerful technologies with the potential to revolutionise various aspects of our lives in 2025. In this article, we highlight some of the AR and VR has been transforming the ways we experience the world around us.
Within the coming weeks, some Caribbean countries will be culminating their Carnival season, which began earlier in the New Year, whilst other countries will soon be launching theirs. To varying degrees, Carnival has become a must-experience event, with countries experiencing an uptick in visitors during that time, especially with members of their diaspora scheduling their visit home during that time.
However, arguments have also been made that Caribbean countries still have not fully leveraged Carnival in the digital space. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, when international travel was difficult, and mass events had to be cancelled, options such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) were suggested as ways to allow individuals to experience Carnival and other local attractions, essentially buoying countries’ tourism industries until things returned to normal. However, very limited progress was made on that front during the Pandemic and in the years since.
For example, in 2022, news reports suggested Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival intended to expand its Carnival, Vincy Mas, to the Metaverse as a means of exporting the country’s culture. However, whether the exploration has been completed and virtual participation in Vincy Mas is possible has not been announced.
Having said this, AR and VR are powerful technologies with the potential to revolutionise various aspects of our lives. We discussed this potential in a podcast conversation in 2020 with 4th Dymension, a software development firm out of Montserrat, which had virtually re-created Plymouth, the former capital of Montserrat that has been buried in volcanic ash since the mid-1990s. However, although AR and VR offer immersive experiences that are transforming industries and reshaping how we interact with the world around us, they still have not gained much traction across the region nearly five years later.
VR and AR: how are they different
Generally, AR and VR tend to be considered in the same breath: different but similar. However, the can serve different purposes and offer experiences.
First, VR creates entirely immersive, computer-generated environments that users can interact with. Typically, to experience VR, a headset that blocks out the real world and provides visual and auditory stimuli that simulate a different reality is required.
On the other hand, AR seeks to enhance our perception of the real world by overlaying digital information onto it. Hence, unlike VR, which creates entirely simulated environments, AR integrates digital content into our existing surroundings, allowing this technology to be accessed via smartphones, tablet computers, or specialised AR glasses.
Applications of AR and VR in 2025
The differing characteristics of AR and VR make them better suited for some applications than others. Exhibit 1 lists some examples of which thereafter, are outlined.
Thanks to the immersive and interactive experience it can offer, VR has found widespread use in gaming and entertainment. VR games and movies can transport players or viewers to fully developed worlds in which they are fully immersed and engaged.
VR is being used to create realistic training simulations for various professions, including pilots, surgeons, and soldiers. These simulations allow individuals to practice complex tasks in a safe and controlled environment, thus improving their skills and preparedness.
VR is being used in therapy and rehabilitation to treat phobias, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders, for example. It can also support physical rehabilitation by providing an engaging environment that patients can focus on or motivating exercise to accelerate their recovery.
VR has also made inroads in design and architecture by allowing architects and designers to create virtual walkthroughs of buildings and spaces, which in turn enable clients to experience the design before construction begins. Offering such a visual and immersive perspective not only facilitates better communication and collaboration but can also result in improved design outcomes.
Finally, VR technology has been underpinning platforms for social interaction, such as VRChat, Rec Room, AltspaceVR, and Facebook Horizon Workrooms, which allow people to connect and interact with each other in virtual spaces. Such platforms are designed to serve different purposes and provide different experiences, but generally, can foster a sense of community and connection, especially for individuals who may be geographically separated.
On the other hand, AR is transforming retail and the shopping experience by allowing customers to virtually try on clothes, visualise furniture in their homes, or preview how makeup products would look on them. Such platforms enhance customer engagement and reduce purchase hesitation.
AR is also revolutionising education and learning by creating interactive and engaging educational experiences. Students can explore 3D models of historical artefacts, dissect animals and plants virtually, or embark on virtual field trips, thus making learning more immersive and memorable.
AR is being used in healthcare to assist medical professionals. For example, it is being used to visualise patient anatomy during surgery and to provide real-time guidance during medical procedures. AR-powered apps are also helping patients manage their conditions and adhere to treatment plans, thus giving them greater control and involvement in their own care.
In manufacturing and engineering, AR is being used to streamline complex tasks by providing workers with step-by-step instructions, real-time data overlays, and remote expert assistance. Such applications are improving efficiency, reducing errors, and enhancing safety.
Finally, AR-powered navigation apps are overlaying digital directions onto the real-world view, making it easier for pedestrians and drivers to plot a course and reach their destination more efficiently and safely. Further, AR can also provide real-time information about nearby points of interest, thus enhancing exploration and discovery and increasing our appreciation of the world around us.
Final thoughts…
The above examples of real-world AR and VR applications ought to demonstrate how powerful and sophisticated these technologies have become. They are poised to become even more integrated into our daily lives by transforming how we interact with digital content and the world around us. Moreover, we can expect to see more sophisticated applications emerge, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds.
Unfortunately, we in the Caribbean region still have not scratched the surface of what AR and VR can do, and neither have we begun to meaningfully leverage it to revolutionise various aspects of our lives in 2025 and how we interact with the world around us. There is much work to be done.
Image credit: Tumisu from (Pixabay)
