Mixed reality, a term used to describe the integration of the digital and physical world, has been rapidly advancing in recent years and is poised to change the way we live and interact with technology. As a tech and design beginner, it's important to understand the different types of mixed realities and their applications. In this blog post, we'll explore the three main categories of mixed realities: augmented, virtual, and extended realities.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality refers to the real-world view that is enhanced or augmented by the addition of computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a completely immersive artificial environment, AR allows you to see the real world while adding digital elements to it. This technology has been widely used in many industries such as retail, gaming, and education. For example, IKEA's AR app allows customers to place virtual furniture in their real-world spaces to see how it would look.

To learn AR, you can start by taking online courses or attending workshops and seminars. You can also get hands-on experience by working on AR projects or building AR apps. Familiarity with programming languages such as Unity, C#, and ARKit can also help you build a strong foundation in AR development.

Below are some helpful resources that go into more detail on Augmented Reality:

https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/mixed-reality/guides/what-is-augmented-reality-ar/

https://www.sap.com/products/scm/industry-4-0/what-is-augmented-reality.html

You can also enroll in a course to learn all about AR with Coursera here:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/ar

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality, on the other hand, is a completely artificial environment that is created to simulate a real-world experience. This technology is widely used for gaming, training simulations, and even therapy. With VR, users can experience a completely immersive and interactive world that is separate from the real world.

To learn VR, you can start by taking online courses and attending workshops and seminars that focus on VR development. You can also get hands-on experience by working on VR projects or building VR apps using programming languages such as Unity and Unreal Engine.

Below are some helpful resources that go into more detail on Virtual Reality:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9MwaH6oGEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Zt3JZejbg

https://www.uxofvr.com

You can also enroll in a course to learn all about VR with Coursera here:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/introduction-virtual-reality

Extended Reality (XR)

Extended Reality refers to the umbrella term that encompasses both augmented and virtual realities. XR allows for the creation of an artificial environment that can be interacted with in real-time and includes a variety of applications such as VR and AR.

To learn XR, you can start by taking online courses and attending workshops and seminars that cover both VR and AR development. You can also gain hands-on experience by working on XR projects and building XR apps using programming languages such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and ARKit.

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Apple's Vision Pro, VisionOS, and Spatial Computing

Another great way to get into this new and exciting world is by staying up to date with Apple's recent and latest efforts. Apple recently announced the Apple Vision Pro built on Apple VisionOS which is their take on "Spatial Computing". Below are some resources that can help us dive in.

Apple introducing Vision Pro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX9qSaGXFyg

Apple resources on VisionOS and Spatial Design:

https://developer.apple.com/visionos/learn/

https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10072/

https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10076/

https://www.figma.com/community/file/1253443272911187215

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In conclusion, understanding the different types of mixed realities is crucial for tech and design beginners who want to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving field. Whether you choose to focus on AR, VR, or XR, learning the basics and gaining hands-on experience is key to developing a strong foundation in this exciting and innovative technology.