ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Science Time XR – The Future of VR, AR & MR in One Extended Reality
As humans, we are naturally curious about what the future holds. Our fascination with the past often stems from our desire to identify patterns that can help us predict future events. Technology is a major force driving the evolution of our civilization. For most of human history, our ancestors lived lives that were not significantly different from those of previous generations. The human species has existed for approximately 200,000 years, and for the majority of that time, we were hunters and gatherers. Even after the advent of agriculture and the rise of civilizations, daily life remained relatively unchanged for centuries. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that technology began to rapidly transform our lives. In just 260 years, technological advancements have reshaped our world more than ever before.
Science fiction often depicts futuristic societies equipped with advanced gadgets that cater to every need. One of the first technologies to give us a taste of this future is XR, or extended reality. But what exactly is XR? To understand its potential and applications, we need to explore its components: virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).
Virtual reality uses computer technology to create immersive experiences that can either mimic or differ from the real world. VR systems typically involve headsets or multi-projected environments that generate realistic visuals and sounds. Unlike watching a 2D screen, VR headsets immerse users in a 3D digital environment. The concept of virtual experiences predates digital computing; in the 1950s, Morton Heilig envisioned an “experience theater” that engaged all the senses. He later built a prototype called Sensorama in 1962, which included films that stimulated sight, sound, smell, and touch. Today, companies like Sony, Oculus, Valve, and HTC produce popular VR headsets. While gaming is a major driver of VR technology, other fields such as education, medical training, healthcare, and the military are also beginning to adopt it.
In contrast to VR, augmented reality enhances the real-world environment with computer-generated information across various sensory modalities. AR systems combine real and virtual worlds, enable real-time interaction, and accurately register 3D virtual and real objects. This technology can either add to or mask the natural environment. Unlike VR, which replaces the real world with a simulated one, AR alters the perception of the real world. Many AR apps are available for smartphones, such as the Measure app on iPhones, which allows users to measure real objects, and the IKEA Place app, which lets users visualize virtual furniture in their homes. JigSpace is another popular AR app that offers interactive 3D objects in fields like science and history.
Mixed reality merges real and virtual worlds to create new environments where physical and digital objects coexist and interact in real time. MR is similar to AR but allows virtual graphics to interact with the real world. In 2019, Microsoft released HoloLens 2, a mixed reality smart glasses device. It features a 52-degree diagonal field of view, improved hologram stability, and capabilities like eye and hand tracking. Although not yet consumer-friendly due to its high price, HoloLens 2 represents a significant step forward in MR technology.
The ultimate goal is to develop an XR device that seamlessly integrates VR, AR, and MR into one affordable product. Qualcomm, known for its Oculus Quest VR headset chip, is collaborating with leading operators to create XR viewers. These lightweight glasses will connect to 5G-enabled smartphones, unlocking a new generation of immersive experiences. Qualcomm’s certification program ensures optimized performance and display calibration for XR devices. Within a few years, XR viewers are expected to become wireless, and in the next decade, we may see widespread adoption of 5G tethered glasses. Companies are also working on platforms like Cloud XR, which stream VR, AR, and MR content from remote servers.
With these advancements, the future of XR technology is incredibly promising.
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Research and present on a specific application of XR technology in a field of your choice, such as education, healthcare, or entertainment. Focus on how VR, AR, and MR are currently being used and their potential future impact. Share your findings in a class presentation or discussion.
Participate in a hands-on workshop where you can experience VR, AR, and MR technologies firsthand. Use devices like VR headsets or AR apps to explore their functionalities. Reflect on your experience and discuss how these technologies could be integrated into your field of study.
Work in groups to design a simple XR experience using available software tools. This could be a VR simulation, an AR app, or an MR interaction. Focus on creating an engaging and educational experience that highlights the unique capabilities of XR technologies.
Engage in a structured debate on the future of XR technology. Discuss the potential benefits and challenges of widespread XR adoption, including ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and societal impacts. Use evidence from current research and case studies to support your arguments.
Analyze a science fiction film or book that features XR technology. Discuss how the depiction of XR in the story compares to current real-world technologies. Consider the accuracy of the portrayal and its influence on public perception of XR.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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As curious beings, it’s in our nature to wonder about the future. Even when we think about the past, it’s only because we are hardwired to find patterns to better predict future outcomes. The driving force that shapes almost every aspect of the future of our civilization is technology. It’s a gripping thought when you realize that for most of human history, the lives of our ancestors were not that much different from those of previous generations. The human species is about two hundred thousand years old, and for most of that time, humans were hunters and gatherers. Even after we developed civilization following the invention of agriculture, the lives of ordinary people living in, say, the first century of the Common Era remained relatively unchanged compared to those living a thousand years later. Civilizations shifted into the next gear only when the Industrial Revolution kicked in. In a span of just 260 years after the first Industrial Revolution, technology transformed our lives more than ever before in the history of our species.
Most science fiction movies portray the lives of people in the future with advanced gadgets and equipment fulfilling all of our needs on command. Perhaps the first technology to make us feel like we are living in the future is the use of XR, or extended reality. So, what exactly is XR? To better understand the prospects of extended reality and its applications, we first need to learn about its components. XR encompasses a combination of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).
First, let’s take a look at the most familiar one: VR. Virtual reality is the use of computer technology to create a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Standard virtual reality systems use either VR headsets or multi-projected environments to generate realistic visuals and sounds. The VR headset offers a digital experience that immerses you in a created 3D environment instead of just watching on a conventional 2D computer screen. Some early prototypes of virtual experiences predate even digital computing. Morton Heilig wrote in the 1950s about an experience theater that could encompass all the senses, drawing the viewer into the on-screen activity. In 1962, he built a prototype called Sensorama, which included five short films and engaged multiple senses such as sight, sound, smell, and touch. Today, countless companies produce VR headsets, with popular ones including Sony’s PSVR, the standalone Oculus Quest, Valve Index, and HTC Vive. While gaming is the major industry propelling VR forward, other fields are beginning to incorporate virtual reality, such as education, medical training, healthcare, and the military.
Next is augmented reality. In contrast to virtual reality, AR is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where real-world objects are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information across multiple sensory modalities. AR can be defined as a system that fulfills three basic features: a combination of the real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and accurate 3D registration of virtual and real objects. The overlaid sensory information can be constructive, adding to the natural environment, or destructive, masking the natural environment to show virtual objects. Augmented reality alters the perception of the real world, whereas VR completely replaces the user’s real-world environment with a simulated one. There are many camera-based AR apps available for smartphones. For example, if you own an iPhone, you can download the Measure app from the App Store for free, which enables you to quickly measure the size of real objects. Another example is the IKEA Place app, which lets you place virtual furniture in your home by taking a photograph of your physical space. One of the best free AR apps is JigSpace, which allows you to explore interactive 3D objects across various fields such as machines, science, space, and history.
Finally, we have mixed reality (MR). Mixed reality merges real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations where physical and digital objects coexist and interact in real time. As the name implies, mixed reality is a hybrid of the real and virtual worlds. MR is similar to augmented reality, but there is a key difference: mixed reality allows virtual graphics to interact with the real world. In February 2019, Microsoft released their mixed reality smart glasses called HoloLens 2. They demonstrated the MR smart glasses with an application created using Unreal Engine. Two months after the announcement, the HoloLens 2 emulator was made available to developers, allowing them to create applications for this MR device. The HoloLens 2 features a diagonal field of view of 52 degrees and improved hologram stability, along with new hardware and capabilities such as eye tracking and hand tracking. However, this device is not currently meant for consumers due to its high price.
There you have it: the three main realities that compose extended reality. There is a need to improve this technology and develop an XR device that encompasses all three realities instead of having separate devices for each realm. The market will eventually produce an affordable device for consumers that combines all realities. On May 20, 2012, Qualcomm, the company that makes the chip for the Oculus Quest VR headset, announced a collaboration with 15 leading operators to deliver XR viewers. These lightweight head-worn glasses will connect to a smartphone powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or 865 mobile platforms, tethered to a 5G-enabled smartphone. XR viewers will unlock a new generation of immersive experiences using 5G-enabled smartphones that provide high bandwidth and low latency, essential for high-quality experiences.
To protect the market for XR devices and ensure software and hardware optimization, Qualcomm has an optimized certification program that includes head tracking performance and display calibration validation. Within one to four years, they expect XR viewers to become wireless, and in the next five to ten years, we will likely see 5G tethered glasses. The tech company that designs GPUs is also focused on developing XR technology. Their Cloud XR platform streams virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality content from any open VR or XR application on a remote server.
With the development of these many XR devices, the future of technology looks very bright.
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XR – Extended Reality, an umbrella term that encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), used to describe immersive technologies that merge the physical and digital worlds. – The development of XR technologies is revolutionizing the way we interact with digital content, offering new possibilities in education and training.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, leading to the creation of tools, systems, and devices that solve problems or perform specific functions. – Advances in technology have significantly improved the efficiency of renewable energy systems.
Virtual – Existing in a digital form that can be accessed or interacted with via computers or other electronic devices, often creating an experience similar to the real world. – Virtual labs allow students to conduct experiments in a simulated environment, enhancing their learning experience without the need for physical materials.
Augmented – Enhanced by the addition of digital elements to a real-world environment, often through the use of devices like smartphones or AR glasses. – Augmented reality applications are being used in medical training to overlay anatomical information onto a physical body.
Mixed – A technology that blends real and virtual worlds to produce new environments where physical and digital objects coexist and interact in real-time. – Mixed reality is being utilized in architecture to visualize building designs in their intended locations before construction begins.
Reality – The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them, often enhanced or altered by technology to create new experiences. – In the realm of digital media, reality can be augmented or entirely simulated to create engaging user experiences.
Immersive – Providing a completely engaging or absorbing experience, often through the use of technology that surrounds the user with a digital environment. – Immersive simulations are being used in pilot training to replicate the experience of flying an aircraft without leaving the ground.
Experiences – Interactions or events that leave an impression on someone, often enhanced by technology to provide a more engaging or educational encounter. – Virtual reality offers experiences that can transport users to different worlds, providing unique educational opportunities.
Devices – Electronic equipment or tools designed for a specific function, often used to interact with or enhance digital environments. – Wearable devices are becoming increasingly popular for monitoring health metrics and providing real-time feedback.
Smartphones – Mobile phones that offer advanced features, such as internet connectivity, touchscreen interfaces, and the ability to run applications, making them versatile tools for communication and information access. – Smartphones have transformed the way we access information, enabling instant communication and connectivity worldwide.
