VR’s cousin generating lots of buzz as Facebook, Apple, others focus on it

The Microsoft's HoloLens, a mixed reality smartglas, is seen at Montapacking in Molenaarsgraaf, on April 18, 2017. With the glasses life-like projections can be seen in the area where the spectacles is worn. This is the difference with virtual reality, where reality disappears completely. / AFP PHOTO / ANP / Robin van Lonkhuijsen / Netherlands OUT

Last year, virtual reality generated lots of buzz. This year, the buzz is around a different kind of "reality" technology that could end up being more popular and useful. 

That technology is dubbed "augmented reality" and it involves layering virtual information over views, images or videos of the real world. It could be something as simple as adding a virtual ballcap to a picture you've taken or as sophisticated as identifying on a screen in real time the person across the room and the place you are in.