XR

Extended Reality (XR). Family of technologies also known as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR).

Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term to cover all of the various forms of computer-altered reality. For some experts and technologists, other terms fall under the XR umbrella:

Virtual reality (VR) completely immerses people in a digital setting. These settings can be
created as fully synthetic computer-generated content, they can be made of real-world content (set in actual 360-degree video), or they can be a hybrid of both. Roblox is one of many popular metaverse VR platforms in 2022. Today’s fullest home or work VR experiences require individuals to use a head-mounted device and haptic controllers.

Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital information in real-world settings. You are applying
AR when you use your phone’s camera to translate signs and menus in real time from one
language to another, or if you play Pokémon Go. Hundreds of AR applications are available today for use on smartphones. AR keeps the real world central but enhances it with digital details that supplement the environment.

Mixed reality (MR) experiences allow people to interact with and manipulate computergenerated images in the real world, in real time. You use a headset but see and remain immersed in the real world while seeing and interacting with images using your hands – for instance, a 3D architectural floor plan for a new school or 3D schematic for an electric vehicle. At this point in time MR is mostly used in industrial, military and medical training and design.

Mirror worlds are digital creations that mimic the physical and social structures of the real world in a VR setting. Several companies are already working to create such representations of the entire planet. For example, Nvidia’s Earth-2 is a digital twin that aims to enhance the capacity for climate modeling. And many mirror worlds are settings for games or businesses. One example is Upland, a virtual-property NFT game where people buy, sell and trade virtual properties mapped to the real world – for instance, a real-world baseball stadium or museum.