Augmented Reality uses technology to augment, enhance, or in some way supplement a physical interaction with digital content. Whereas VR involves full immersion into digital content—with no meaningful interaction with physical space beyond motion controls—augmented reality allows people to interact with the world around them while simultaneously engaging with digital content relevant or corresponding to a physical object or space. For example, a 3D-rendered copy of an art museum that can be explored from your chair by wearing a headset would be a VR experience; on the other hand, a smartphone app that can recognize a painting in the museum and plays back biographical and historical information about that painting when you point your phone camera at it would be an AR experience.
In a makerspace context, filament commonly refers to the narrow "string" of polymer that feeds into FDM extruders. Common polymers used in 3D printing filament include polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G). Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) is a specialized, water-soluable polymer that is commonly used to make easily removed supports in multi-material printers. Although these polymers are the most ubiquitous filaments found in 3D printing, composite materials containing ceramics, wood, metal, and other plastics can be found for specific applications.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is the most common type of consumer 3D printing technology currently. Layers of melted plastic or other malleable material are extruded atop one another.
Slicing is the process of creating layered print instructions out of a 3D model. A 3D printer doesn't directly understand how to "print" a 3D model, such as an .STL, .M3F, or .OBJ. Slicing software analyzes a 3D model and--using the defined print settings such as layer height, density, resolution, and so forth--creates layers, travel paths, extrusion rates, and other such instructions that will tell the 3D printer how to "build" the model.
Stereolithography (SLA) is a 3D printing technology that uses photochemical reactions. Lasers or ultraviolet light are used precisely cure liquid polymer, layer by layer.
Virtual Reality (VR) is an interactive technology in which a headset presents a small screen to each eye—simultaneously shutting out any peripheral vision—and tracks the positioning of the user’s head. Combined with software, virtual reality headsets allow for immersive experiences of digital content while emulating some aspects of reality, such as the ability to “look around.” Some systems also include one or two handheld devices to allow for further interaction with virtual content and/or sensors that track physical movement to correspond with virtual movement. Virtual reality is distinct in that the experienced content is fully digital.