In the world of technology, nothing stands still for long. The latest buzzwords you might have heard are VR, AR, and MR, all of which fall under the umbrella term of extended reality (XR).
These Technologies Manipulate reality but in different ways.
Virtual Reality (VR): An Immersive Experience
Virtual reality is an immersive experience that fully transports you to a computer-generated world, and there are a variety of headsets available on the market to experience it. Some of the most popular VR headsets include the Oculus Quest 2, PlayStation VR2, Valve Index, and Pico Neo 3. When you put on a VR headset, you're cut off from the outside world, and your vision is filled with the virtual world. You can interact with this world using hand-held controllers or through other means, but you're not able to see or interact with the real world around you.
While technology has come a long way, it's not without its limitations. VR headsets can be expensive and require a powerful PC or console to run. In addition, users can experience motion sickness or other side effects, and some people find the experience disorienting or uncomfortable.
Augmented Reality (AR): Adding to Reality
Augmented reality overlays digital information and objects onto the real world, creating an enhanced experience. AR technology can be experienced through a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and specialized glasses. Some of the most popular AR devices include the Nreal Light, Google Glass Enterprise Edition, Microsoft HoloLens 2, and Magic Leap One. While the technology has been around for a while, it's only recently started to gain traction in the consumer market. The most well-known example of AR technology is probably Pokemon Go, which overlays digital creatures onto the real world using your smartphone camera.
Mixed Reality (MR): A Combination of VR and AR
Mixed reality combines elements of VR and AR to create an even more immersive experience, and there are a few devices available to experience it. Some of the most popular MR devices include the Oculus Quest 2, Microsoft HoloLens 2, and the Meta Quest Pro (which was recently canceled). With MR, digital objects and information can be anchored to the real world and interact with it. For instance, you might see a virtual ball sitting on your real-life table, and you can interact with it using your hands or a controller. MR can be experienced through either a VR headset with passthrough technology or through translucent glasses, which allow you to see the real world and virtual projections simultaneously.
XR: The Future of Reality?
The extended reality, or XR, is the umbrella term that encompasses all of the reality-manipulating technologies, including VR, AR, and MR. While these technologies are currently experiencing varying degrees of success, many experts predict that XR has the potential to revolutionize a variety of industries, from gaming to healthcare to education.
As the technology continues to evolve and become more accessible, it's likely that we'll see even more innovative uses for XR in the future. Whether you're interested in fully immersive virtual worlds or augmented information overlays, XR has something for everyone.