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AR and VR are very much not the same thing.

VR is for replacing reality, AR is for putting (useful?) digital things on top of the real world.

Given that AR headset also tend to reduce vision (need to block incoming light to be able to project these 'augmented' object), I'm not sure that the distinction between AR and VR-with-passtrough is very important.

There are different AR implementations possible with different tradeoffs.

They are two extremes on a spectrum. AR approaches VR the more virtual elements are visible.

And VR with passthrough is AR unless you're being pedantic.

>And VR with passthrough is AR unless you're being pedantic.

It isn't. It doesn't do what AR does. It's just an ease of use of feature. IUf you watch a security camera through a VR HMD is it AR? No, because none of the virtual world is being cast into the real world. It doesn't meet the basic requirements of being AR.

Have you used any passthrough apps on VR headsets? I work on one and it's functionality is the same whether it runs on VR/passthrough or traditional AR hardware.

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