Extended reality is one of the present’s and the future’s most important technologies, as it embraces Virtual reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. Those are all included under the umbrella term of Extended Reality.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality has primarily grown in popularity due to its usage in entertainment, such as video games and immersive movies. However, you may use virtual reality for much more than just to improve the quality of your entertainment.
It is a technology that enables users to engage themselves in a reality that is either completely different from or identical to reality. In other words, it creates a digital reality that takes the place of the user’s physical experience. It uses a head-mounted display to produce a fully realistic experience by replicating as many scenarios as possible.
Augmented Reality
To improve the digital experience, Augmented Reality overlays current reality with various pieces of information. Unlike Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality does not create an altogether new world. Humans can use the cameras on their smartphones and headsets to create an overlay of their real surroundings. This technology is widely used in the gaming business, and it also gets used to improve the presentation of sporting events.
Augmented Reality can be on top of reality because it only adds some qualities and does not change it completely. Moreover, users cannot interact with a simulated environment simultaneously. Augmented Reality technologies are more inexpensive and accessible for private usage because they do not require extra devices such as immersive headsets.
Mixed Reality
Mixed Reality is probably the least known form of Extended Reality technologies. It incorporates aspects from real and virtual worlds to create a new universe in which actual and synthetic objects coexist. These objects can also interact with each other in real-time.
This sort of reality gets characterized by its flexibility. In addition, it makes the most of Augmented and Virtual Reality. Mixed Reality lets users see the real world alongside certain virtual things anchored to a specific real-world location, allowing them to interact with them as if they were genuine.
The most significant distinction between Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality is the device utilized to interface with the program. Augmented Reality is mostly dependent on mobile devices, whereas Mixed Reality relies on external devices such as smart glasses. As a result, Mixed Reality encourages movement and contact with a mobile phone screen.
Extended Reality
Extended Reality encompasses both actual and virtual settings and is concerned with technologically driven human-machine interactions. Because each of the underlying technologies is dependent on each other, advances that result in changes also result in new Extended Reality experiences.
Use Cases of Extended Reality
Many businesses all over the world are already taking advantage of the technology. Now let us look at some of the expanding applications of Extended Reality in a few of these areas to understand more about its vast potential.
Entertainment and Gaming
Extended Reality gets widely used in the entertainment and video game industries. An immersive virtual environment gets created by combining camera tracking and real-time rendering. The capacity of Extended Reality to provide a holistic involvement effect enhances video games. Furthermore, video games are the biggest users of Extended Reality technology, accounting for 76% of usage.
For example, concerts, exhibits, and sporting events can benefit from Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality. People can visit the Louvre museum or watch the World Cup final while sitting at home and feeling immersed in the event, rather than rushing through overcrowded museums or stadiums.
Healthcare
Instead of real animals or human bodies, medical students can practice holographically portrayed bodily parts and organs. Not only would this allow for an infinite number of trials, saving real-life body parts that you may utilize for other uses, but it also allows students to improve at home if they are unable to attend their courses physically.
Manufacturing and Engineering
Extended Reality is also being used to learn, work, and train collaboratively in the manufacturing and engineering industries, whether for troubleshooting, practicing routine maintenance processes, or designing to develop something new. You can construct realistic, collaborative, and safe scenarios while simultaneously being remote. Because it is virtually hands-on, training is more engaging than traditional training sessions.
Real Estate
Extended Reality enables potential home buyers to obtain a real sense of the property, making it easier for real estate agents and managers to clinch a transaction. It saves time for all parties involved and makes the decision-making process less strenuous.
Architecture and interior design are other examples of Extended Reality in real estate. The system will give specialists and their customers a complete picture of the project, reducing the risk of errors and unpleasant surprises.
Travel
Extended Reality is already becoming a necessary component in the travel and tourist industry. Travelers can get more information about their current position by using real-time location tracking in conjunction with cameras that can detect real-life places and sightings. This experience could take the shape of projected videos, objects, or even real-time language translation.
Marketing
Marketers can use Extended Reality to give their customers a try-before-you-buy opportunity. It transports them to a certain location, immerses them in that world, and encourages them to discover it.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended Reality
With everything said above, it is now time to look at Extended Reality’s Advantages and Disadvantages.
Advantages
Extended reality enables a unique experience. Companies can provide their consumers with the ability to visit places of interest or try something new without having to leave the house by immersing them in a completely different world.
Extended reality allows for a safe training environment. Those who must train in high-risk environments, like the military or engineers, can do so securely in classroom settings.
Extended reality makes it possible to absorb knowledge quickly. Extended Reality gives its users a more realistic vision of their subject matter, allowing them to receive more effective training.
The use of Extended Reality allows for smooth data access. Because Extended Reality eliminates distance constraints, humans can easily access remote data.
Disadvantages
It reduced social interaction. Extended reality offers a variety of amusements that can entirely immerse human minds and eliminate the need for dialogue. Although Extended Reality allows individuals to communicate, it does it uniquely, excluding face-to-face contact and human engagement.
There can be physical injury. Long-term use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality glasses might result in eye problems, nausea, lightheadedness, and headaches.
The hefty implementation costs. The creation and maintenance of Extended Reality solutions and devices and the gadgets that support this technology are exceedingly costly.
Conclusion
Extended Reality provides vast opportunities and experiences without needing to go out of your homes. Thousands of businesses have already benefited from Extended Reality. At the same time, Extended Reality deployment, like any other developing technology, is risky and demands a considerable investment.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
