Introduction
- Extended Reality or ER is a combination of augmented reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). By the word “extended”, we know that it means to extend the reality to another level where physical and digital co-exists. Extended reality extends across VR, AR, and MR, as well as all future immersive technologies that enable an extension of reality while blending virtual graphics with real-world elements. Such technologies include, for example, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G network, etc.
Parts Of Extended Reality
Virtual Reality: Virtual reality generates scenes and objects that feel so real that a user might think he is in a real environment. There are three types of virtual reality – non–immersive, semi-immersive, and fully immersive.
Augmented Reality: Augmented reality is used to generate text, audio, and graphics which to create information that is integrated with real-life objects. It is used to create illusions. Games like Pokémon Go use Augmented reality.
Mixed Reality: The merging of real and virtual worlds to create a new environment where physical and digital objects co-exist in real-time is called mixed reality.
History Of ER
The 1950s to 1970s was the time when ER was getting shape. Morton Heilig, a cinematographer created Sensorama, the first VR machine in the year 1956. This machine used a vibrating chair that would immerse the viewer in the movie. Using this idea, Philco created a Headlight Headset, the first motion tracking technology. Massecuites Institute of Technology (MIT) created Aspen Movie Map in the 1970s which was a computer-generated tour of the street of Aspen.
VPL Research Inc was the first company to sell VR goggles and gloves. It was founded in the year 1985 and by the middle of the 1990s, VR headsets were quite affordable. The real event happened in the year 1998 when an NFL game was broadcasted live with the yellow yard marker, soon this idea was spread to other sports broadcasting.
From 2010 onwards, XR gained huge popularity and momentum. Palmer Luckey ignited the interest in XR, who designed the prototype for the Oculus Rift VR headset. In the year of 2016, Microsoft designed HoloLens Headset which made ER more interactive and fun.
Applications Of Extended Reality
Gaming – As we have already investigated the history of ER, we can already guess, the main application of ER is in the domain of entertainment and gaming. Enchantment of video games due to extended reality gives it a leg up for more participation.
In some way, the extended reality is also helpful for able to teach people in a virtual environment.
Healthcare – It is also helpful in healthcare where doctors get to visualize the organs in a 3D domain.
Real Estate -Coming to real estate, it helps the buyers get a 3D feel of the house before buying it.
Drawbacks Of Extended Reality
- One of the major drawbacks of extended reality is compromised privacy. It is prone to cyber-attacks and can lead to severe damage. It also rules out any social interaction among us, it does provide us with an environment to interact on the virtual level but on the physical level, we become more restricted to our devices. The biggest drawback, as we all know is the cost of implementation. The devices which support XR are extremely costly and is it not something everyone can afford.
Future Of Extended Reality
- There are huge predictions that extended reality will be used in classrooms so that students can learn subjects like geography in a virtual environment so as to understand things on a deeper level. Adding more years, the gaming industry will develop more and more, allowing some extremely out-of-the-box creations in this part of the industry. It also might enter more domains and expand its impact as it does in the healthcare sector and real estate.
Top 13 Interesting Facts About XR
The most common users of XR are ranged from 16 – 34 years.
By 2023, the XR market is expected to have a net worth of around 18 billion.
Jaron Lanier is known as the father of virtual reality.
Oculus VR is the leading company in the field of virtual reality.
Joint works Solutions LLP is the leading company in India working on virtual reality.
1 million consumers in America use AR monthly.
AR is used by over 100 million across the world to shop.
VR gaming makes up the largest consumer of VR technology.
Qualcomm and LG rank as the leading owners of XR patents.
The global extended reality market reached a value of US$ 24.86 billion in 2021.
70% of consumers 16 to 44 years are aware of AR.
America has 841 XR patents registered.
Japan has 687 XR patents filed.
